Tequila Komos Añejo Cristalino, Mexico ($120) A stunning nose of sugared pineapple is surrounded by bright agave freshness and lime zest. The satin-coated liquid warms the palate as lilac-scented lime and a wash of tangerine peel converge for a tart starkness. It’s mineraldriven and dry, with a gravitas that’s also palpable in its seamless finish. 98

Komos Añejo Cristalino ($144), the inspiration of wine impresario Richard Betts, is aged in French-oak white-wine barrels for 12 months before being stripped of color and transferred into amphorae jars for aeration; the result is a silky-smooth texture and grassy taste with a soft agave finish.

If you’re searching for a canned cocktail that’s not too sweet and is low in calories, carbs, and sugar, look no further than the newly-launched Superbird Free Paloma.

A decade ago, mezcal swept the nation—bartenders clamored to get their hands on single village bottles from Del Maguey while spirits lovers proudly dubbed the Oaxacan Old Fashioned their drink of choice. Now, the Cristalino tequila category is positioning itself to be the agave scene's newest hit. But what is Cristalino?

This Tequila was aged in French oak white wine barrels, filtered for clarity, then aerated in clay amphorae. All this yields a liquid with a faint straw tinge and slightly floral aroma warmed with cooked agave. The silky palate is lightly sweet, with toasted coconut and almond leading into a gentle, mouthwatering finish accented with lemony acidity and pink peppercorn.

Created by Meredith Erickson, author of Alpine Cooking, and CKBG, Doladira is described as ‘the new staple’ for the on-trade. “I created Doladira to have the drink I always wanted but could never find,” said Erickson. “An aperitivo with real ingredients, less sugar, and a perfect balance of bitterness, acidity, herbaceousness, and salinity."

In a spirit category best-known for shots and margaritas, it’s fair to say Komos is not your average tequila. Taking inspiration from European wine-making techniques, the brand’s ultra-luxurious tequilas are quite simply a standout among its competitors.

Komos is passionately crafted with an ambition to create the most delicious tequila while honoring each memorable moment along the way. It is proudly referred to as the "category redefining" line of ultra-luxury tequila.

This luxury brand, which was also founded by Richard Betts, currently has a lineup of three tequilas: Anejo Cristalino, aged for a year in French oak white wine barrels before being filtered; Reposado Rosa, aged for 65 days in French red wine barrels to infuse it with pink color and fruit flavors; and Extra Anejo, aged in both wine and whiskey barrels. And the release of the Anejo Reserva was just announced, a tequila aged for a full year in wine, sherry, and bourbon barrels before being blended

Komos takes inspiration from European wine-making techniques and is aged in the finest French oak wine barrels to create a satin-smooth, opulent spirit, designed to appeal to drinks enthusiasts on the hunt for luxury and innovation. Whether discerning tequila drinkers or not, each unique Komos expression works wonderfully on its own or in a variety of premium classic cocktails.

Don’t be alarmed by this tequila’s pink color. It comes from resting in French oak red wine barrels, which gives it a lovely rosé.

“Luxury Tequila has to be one of the most exciting and unique categories at the moment and we are seeing three players come out on top in this category. Two established brands, Don Julio 1942 and Clase Azul, and the newcomer, Tequila Komos.

For those that love luxury, this tequila brand is for you and sure to impress. Tequila Komos is made with 100% blue agave and turned into a tequila blanco. Then the magic happens in French oak white wine barrels when the tequila is aged for a Mediterranean flare unlike anything else.

This Tequila was aged in French oak white wine barrels, filtered for clarity, then aerated in clay amphorae. All this yields a liquid with a faint straw tinge and slightly floral aroma warmed with cooked agave. The silky palate is lightly sweet, with toasted coconut and almond leading into a gentle, mouthwatering finish accented with lemony acidity and pink peppercorn

The pandemic-related supply chain disruptions have created enormous challenges for many distillers when it comes to getting enough bottles and other crucial materials. Industry veteran Richard Betts launched Tequila Komos in late 2020, in the midst of the pandemic. But a decision he made early on—to launch his tequila in ceramic bottles instead of glass ones—has turned out to be a fortuitous one for his brand.

Joining Casa Komos Brands Group (CKBG) as International Managing Director, Leslie Serrero brings 25 years of luxury brand leadership to the company.

For those that love luxury, this tequila brand is for you and sure to impress. Tequila Komos is made with 100% blue agave and turned into a tequila blanco. Then the magic happens in French oak white wine barrels when the tequila is aged and then after that, it is rested in Greek amphorae for a Mediterranean flare unlike anything else.

Reposado Tequila Reposado (which means “rested”) sits in a barrel for 2–11 months. This is the predominant style of tequila consumed in Mexico. It has all the flavors of blue agave, minor barrel notes, and the finish is easier on the palate than a blanco. If you prefer a smoother mixed drink with a warm flavor profile, you can swap reposado into any cocktail recipe that calls for a blanco.

Crafted with anejo tequila that’s aged in French white oak barrels, Komos Anejo Cristalino is bright with notes of pineapples, orange zest, and lime. It has a floral, fruity taste and a rich mouthfeel. The finish is delicate and intertwined with hints of sweetness.

IWSR data shows that growth of still rosé wine has outpaced that of the total still wine market in the US – total still wine had a 2015–19 volume CAGR of +0.8%; still rosé wine increased 18.49% over the same period. So why can’t tequila find the same velocity? IWSR data shows a 2015–19 CAGR of 263.6% for pink spirits, albeit from a small base. Signs are pointing to tequila thinking pink this summer.

Cristalino tequila is añejo tequila filtered through charcoal to remove any color it gets in barrels. "It's clear like a blanco, but has the depth of flavor that occurs from the aging process," said Jeff Bell, managing partner of New York City speakeasy PDT (Please Don't Tell). He loves this Komos Tequila Anejo Cristalino, which is aged for 12 months. "[It's] a great amount of time for tequila as it retains the beautiful agave flavors and doesn’t become too oaky," he said.

Founder and CEO Richard Betts tells us what we need to know about Tequila Komos. Tequila Komos represents the marriage of Mexican tradition and the Mediterranean lifestyle in a uniquely packaged line of tequilas. Created by industry veteran and master sommelier Richard Betts, Komos offers a personal vision of tequila that expands the premium category through its three unique expressions. We asked Betts to tell us more about this unique and must know tequila brand.

This Tequila was aged in French oak white wine barrels, filtered for clarity, then aerated in clay amphorae. All this yields a liquid with a faint straw tinge and slightly floral aroma warmed with cooked agave. The silky palate is lightly sweet, with toasted coconut and almond leading into a gentle, mouthwatering finish accented with lemony acidity and pink peppercorn. 96 points.

For a delicious RTD made with natural ingredients, Superbird is a fun, flavorful option that’s ripe for warm weather.

For the agave-phile in your inner circle, a bottle of Komos will hit the spot this Valentine’s Day, as it brings together inspiration from Greek Mediterranean spirits and applies them to the traditional Mexican artisan craft of making agave elixirs. The most opulent of all of Komos’ expressions is its Tequila Komos Extra Añejo, aged for a minimum of three years in a combination of French white wine barrels and American oak whiskey barrels. The richness of American oak is masterfully blended...

On the heels of Tequila Komos Añejo Cristalino's 2020 debut, Casa Komos Brands Group has rolled out the high-end Tequila Komos Reposado Rosa (SRP: $109.99) and Tequila Komos Extra Añejo ($399.99). Upon aging in French oak, red wine barrels from Napa, the former, with chocolate and dark fruit notes...

Sommelier and agave whisperer Richard Betts ages [Reposado Rosa] 80-proof tequila in French oak Napa Valley white wine barrels. It pours the color of a beach sunset, is as easy going down, and carries a subtle fruitiness, meaning it's as effortless to pair with food as glass of Pinot.

“Respect the traditions of Mexico [without] being bound by them”: This is the core philosophy driving Tequila Komos founder and CEO Richard Betts. “We keep evolving, and we keep responding to how people enjoy tequila, and this is what motivates more delicious flavors,” he says.

Tequila has been hot this summer, and the Superbird Paloma is a great way to jump in on the craze. Superbird is made in Mexico from 100% Blue Agave, so drinkers can rest easy. With real grapefruit and agave nectar, the quality outshines the hard seltzers on the market that so often have artificial after tastes.

Dogmatic agave aficionados be damned, Cristalino tequila is flourishing, both in the U.S. and its homeland. For those who find the savory, vegetal side of the spirit hard to come to terms with, the style offers the perfect jumping off point. This particular bottle lands on the palate like an agave-sweetened dessert with a sprinkling of peppery spice on the finish. Skip the last course and head straight for a glass of Komos Cristalino.

Looking to splurge on something nice? The handcrafted Añejo Cristalino frofd European winemaking techniques, this one is aged in French oak white wine barrels and does not include any added sugar.

Superbird is a refreshing ready-to-drink Paloma cocktail with 5.9% alcohol-by-volume, crafted with 100% Blue Agave Tequila and no sugars or artificial ingredients. Envisioned by industry innovator Richard Betts, Superbird is made with 4 primary natural ingredients - 100% Blue Agave Tequila, natural grapefruit juice, agave nectar, and sparkling water. A lower calorie companion, Superbird Free, features just 95 calories.

While an anejo is typically golden or amber, this delicate and floral variation punctuated with lime zest is clear, despite being aged for a minimum of a year in French oak wine barrels.

The great thing about these ready-to-drink palomas is that they’re made with just four simple ingredients: agave, grapefruit juice, sparkling water and handcrafted Mexican tequila that’s been granted the official Tequila Blanco 100% Puro Agave seal. That means no added sugars and no artificial ingredients. Just pure deliciousness.

Its debut offering is an añejo cristalino, aged in French oak white wine barrels (instead of the usual bourbon barrels) and stored in clay amphorae. The end result is “delicate, light and smooth,” according to the producer. The bottle is handsome: a tall, handmade clay vessel glazed a deep Mediterranean blue. A reposado expression is slated to launch in 2021.

This tequila instantly invites with enticing aromas that dance between vanilla, perfumed berry compote, flowers, and rich agave syrup. It lands on the palate with a weighty, velvety texture and just a hint of spice to finish. The sweet and decadent nature of this tequila’s profile make it an ideal sipping option to finish the night.

How Sombra Mezcal’s Richard Betts crafts his “Mediterranean” tequila is likely to rankle purists already irked by cristalinos, but let them rage: French oak white wine barrel aging and a post-purification rest in Greek clay amphorae produce a sublime salty-sweet, floral sip.

Dear Client: Molson Coors recently announced a deal via its emerging brands team with a company called CKBG (Casa Komos Beverage Group) for the MC system to distribute Superbird, a tequila-based ready-to-drink cocktail [see WSD 01-26-2021]. Who is CKBG? To learn more about the company and its recent MC partnership, your editor got on …

Four months ago, Casa Komos Beverage Group launched its first tequila, an añejo cristalino that sold out within 60 days. This week, Komos announced they’re ready to do it again—this time with an ultra-premium Reposado Rosa—aged in red wine barrels and tumbled in amphorae. “It looks like a great Provence rosé,” says Richard Betts, CEO and founder of Tequila Komos. “But it’s redolent of ripe roasted agave with hints of vanilla, butterscotch and smoke from the oak barrels.”

Tequila Komos, a hand-crafted, ultra-premium Añejo Cristalino tequila combines time-honored tequila-making tradition with European winemaking techniques for a flavor that’s delicate, smooth, and best enjoyed chilled or with a splash of sparkling water. Each bottle is handmade using clay, with nods to the Mediterranean, so you can take a romantic vacay without ever leaving home. $119 (komos.com)

The beer giant will distribute a tequila-based beverage, joining a segment of the industry that's seen sales skyrocket. Molson Coors Beverage entered into a partnership to distribute a canned tequila-based beverage, marking the beer giant’s first foray into the rapidly expanding read-to-drink cocktail category.

Molson Coors’ rapidly expanding beverage interests now include ready-to-drink cocktails, following the company’s announcement today of a partnership to distribute tequila-based cocktail Superbird. Clocking in at 5.9% ABV per 12 oz. can, Superbird is a carbonated ready-to-drink version of a Paloma, made with 100% blue agave tequila, grapefruit juice, agave nectar and sparkling water. The brand is a division of parent company Casa Komos Beverage Group, which also markets premium tequila label...

Molson Coors Beverage Co., eager to expand beyond the beer category, is partnering with a new spirits company, CKBG, to market Superbird, a ready-to-drink carbonated tequila paloma cocktail. The new business line is a significant first for Molson Coors, but Superbird may also be of note to marketers and media executives for CKBG’s co-founder, Joe Marchese.

New York City-based Casa Komos Beverage Group has expanded distribution for its Superbird canned cocktail. The Paloma cocktail, which is made with Blanco Tequila, freshly squeezed grapefruit juice, agave nectar, and sparkling water, will now be available at retailers across Massachusetts, joining existing distribution in the Tri-State area. Casa Komos Beverage Group was founded in 2019 by Richard Betts and Joe Marchese, and currently markets the Superbird RTD and Komos Tequila brands.

When it comes to tequila, the term “ultra luxury” is about as overdone as the margarita. Consequently, just like the aforementioned cocktail, you need a point of differentiation and a good whack of flavor to stand out. Tequila Komos claims just that with its new Añejo Cristalinoa. The one-of-a-kind spirit is the brainchild of hospitality heavyweight Richard Betts and his entrepreneur friend Joe Marchese.

Well-versed in worldly cultures and inspired to “make the world a better, happier place,” Richard Betts is starting his next alcohol adventure. Recently moved to Amsterdam, Betts is continuing to find niches and create liquors meant to improve consumers’ drinking. “It’s not about drinking more, it’s about drinking better.” Since we last spoke to him, he has moved past wine and into the world of Komos Tequila, which he created with his partner Joe Marchese...

No spirit has seen a growth in popularity and quality quite like Tequila in the last few decades. The spirit has flooded bars and liquor stores across the globe with everyone from NBA stars to George Clooney and British spirit conglomerates grabbing for a piece of the action. While this has led in some cases to mass produced products lacking individual character and poor quality mixtos, it has also opened the door for innovation.