Casamigos vs Teremana Tequila: What’s the Difference? (2023)
Last Updated on August 22, 2023 by Lydia Martin
Experts expect the tequila market to expand to over $15 billion by 2029. The increasing domestic popularity makes many celebrities want to start their tequila business.
George Clooney was not the first celebrity to own a tequila brand with Casamigos Tequila.
However, his success was soon followed by other celebrities like Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson with his Teremana Tequila.
But which is the better celebrity-owned tequila brand of the two? Here’s our detailed comparison of Casamigos vs Teremana tequilas.
Casamigos Blanco vs Teremana Blanco Tequila Compared
Celebrities founded both tequila brands, but Casamigos Tequila was the first to enter the market in 2013, while Teremana was only launched in 2020.
Casamigos has a rich vanilla flavor, while Teremana is slightly peppery.
“Overall, the top-selling celebrity-owned tequila brands’ sales tend to mirror overall tequila trends like premiumization.”
– Liz Paquette, Senior Director of Brand
Teremana is cheaper than Casamigos, making it perfect for mixing in cocktails.
It also values transparency by putting the nutritional details of the liquor on the label, while Casamigos was proudly tasted by George Clooney himself in every batch released.
How They Differ
Teremana Tequila | Casamigos Tequila | |
NOM | 1613 | 1609 |
Owner & Distillery | Siete Bucks Spirits (Destileria Teremana De Agave) | Diageo México Operaciones, SA De CV |
Alcohol Proof | 80 proof | 80 proof |
Palate | Warm and a good creamy texture, sweet agave taste, and green pepper with earthy notes | Smooth and creamy, with rich vanilla flavor and woody notes |
Color | Clear, yellow straw, rich gold | Clear, gold, rich caramel |
Nose | Rich agave smell and notes of citrus and ethanol | Mint, toasted marshmallow, and mostly vanilla |
Finish | Long finish of forward agave flavor, a little bitter | Long and pleasantly warm |
How It’s Served | Neat, on the rocks, and cocktails (a go-to for Margarita) | Neat, on the rocks, and classic cocktails |
Casamigos Blanco Tequila
Origin
Casamigos Tequila is the creation of longtime friends George Clooney, Mike Meldman, and Rande Gerber, launched in 2013.
Clooney and Gerber stated that the idea behind Casamigos is to make the smoothest tequila that consumers would not have to cover with salt or lime [1].
The founders took almost two years and around 700 samples before choosing the perfect tequila with no burn at all.
Production & Maturation Process
Casamigos used 100% Blue Weber Agave, aged seven to nine years before being harvested.
For 72 hours, the agaves are roasted in brick ovens, compared to the usual 7 hours.
The fermentation process of Casamigos would take 80 hours, twice longer than the industry average.
Finally, the tequila goes through the aging process of 2 to 14 months before bottling.
Flavors
This tequila brand only has three products in its tequila line. These expressions are Casamigos Blanco (aged for 2 months), Reposado (aged for 7 months), and Anejo Tequila (aged for 14 months).
Casamigos Tequila has strong vanilla flavors, making it more suitable for classic cocktails than Margaritas.
It is really smooth and perfect to drink neat without the burning finish. We’ve got our recommended Casamigos tequila here.
Alternative Bottles
The tequila line of Don Julio could be an alternative to Casamigos Tequila because both brands share the same smooth mouthfeel and soft texture.
Arette’s Suave Tequila also offers a range of smooth spirits.
The prices of these tequila brands do not differ so much, while the bottle sizes and alcohol content are the same.
Fun Facts
- The name Casamigos means “House of Friends,” taken after the homes of George Clooney and Rande Gerber, sitting beside each other in Mexico.
- This tequila brand claimed that the founders personally tasted every batch released of their liquor.
- Diageo, a giant liquor company, acquired Casamigos Tequila for around $1 billion in 2017, four years after its launch.
Teremana Blanco Tequila
Origin
Teremana Tequila was introduced in the middle of the pandemic in March 2020 by Dwayne Johnson and his co-founders Dany Garcia, Ken Austin, and Jenna Fagnan.
The founders worked with a Mexican family-owned distillery, turning it into a unique home dedicated to the Teremana brand – Destileria Teremana de Agave.
Soon after, the founders partnered with Mast-Jägermeister SE to distribute Teremana.
Production & Maturation Process
Teremana Tequila is made at Destileria Teremana De Agave amidst the highest peaks of Jalisco Highlands [2].
It utilizes 100% agave roasted for three days using a brick oven before distillation.
After fermenting the extracted juice, the tequila distillates using handmade copper pot stills.
The maturation process of the spirit would take around two months to more than a year using oak barrels.
Flavors
Like Casamigos, Teremana Tequila comes in three expressions: the Blanco, Reposado, and Anejo.
Only the expression Reposado (2 months to 1 year) and Anejo (more than a year) underwent maturation.
The flavors of Teremana Tequila were more inclined to citrus and lemon notes. This tequila is a better choice for Margaritas than Casamigos.
Alternative Bottles
Espolon Tequila shares the same warming notes and peppery flavors as Teremana Tequila.
This tequila brand is a slightly cheaper alternative, available in three bottle sizes and with the same alcohol content.
Another alternative to Teremana Tequila is the Cimarron Tequila, a much cheaper but well-made spirit available in 750ml and 40% ABV.
Fun Facts
- Johnson’s Polynesian background inspired the name, which is “tera,” meaning “of the earth,” and “mana” for “our powerful Polynesian spirit.”
- Teremana Tequila released its bottles with nutrition and production details, an uncommon trait in this liquor industry.
- Despite being new to the industry, Teremana Tequila has already been recognized by prestigious spirits awards.
Casamigos Blanco vs Teremana Blanco: Price Cheat Sheet
Type | Size | Average Price |
Casamigos Blanco Tequila | 750ml | Around $40-$50 (Drizly) |
Teremana Blanco Tequila | 750ml | Around $25-$35 (Drizly) |
FAQs
Which is smoother, Casamigos Blanco or Teremana Blanco tequila?
Casamigos Blanco is smoother than Teremana Blanco Tequila. It is also better to sip this tequila neat since the creators deliberately made it that way.
Are Casamigos Blanco and Teremana Blanco tequila celebrity-endorsed?
Yes, both Casamigos Blanco and Teremana Blanco tequilas are celebrity-endorsed because the founders of these two spirits are famous Hollywood celebrities.
Is Casamigos Blanco better in cocktails than Teremana Blanco tequila?
No, Casamigos Blanco is not better in cocktails than Teremana Blanco because of its strong vanilla flavor.
Final Verdict
Our team has chosen Casamigos Tequila because of its smoothness and long, pleasant finish.
It is a better choice as a sipping tequila for newbies because of the strong vanilla flavors and minty notes.
The tequila would also get better if taken on the rocks, but it is slightly more expensive than Teremana.
As a cheaper option, Teremana is a good tequila for mixing in cocktails. It has pepper notes and a slightly bitter finish, perfect for mixing with other ingredients.
References:
- https://www.rollingstone.com/product-recommendations/lifestyle/best-tequila-994049/
- https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/dwayne-johnsons-teremana-tequila-set-for-strategic-global-expansion-301472916.html