No stranger to breaking boundaries, it’s perhaps unsurprising that when Lewis Hamilton ventured into the beverage business, he was keen to set a new standard. Enter Almave: the world’s first premium, non-alcoholic blue agave spirit that aims to redefine tequila craftsmanship. He says: “There’s a huge appetite for quality alternatives for those times when people don’t want to drink alcohol but also don’t want to compromise on flavour, which is why it was important that our product includes agave to reflect the taste of conventional tequila. I think it tastes amazing.” Well, you heard it here first.

Co-founded by the seven-time F1 champion with Mexican spirits group, Casa Lumbre, and master distiller Iván Saldaña, Almave has been crafted to replicate an authentic agave flavour just without the alcohol. Offering two expressions – Blanco and Ámbar – the spirit features blue weber agave from the Mexican state of Jalisco, which is distilled using a unique process that preserves the complexity and flavour of tequila without fermentation. Almave Ámbar, for example, offers a rich, sweet profile that’s ideal for sipping, while Almave Blanco balances sweetness, herbaceousness, and acidity that’s suited to cocktails like margaritas.

Also hailing from Jalisco, Saldaña developed a passion for the region’s biodiversity and agave, which saw him study a PhD in biology specialising in agave species. In 2011, he co-founded Casa Lumbre to create authentic Mexican spirits that honour the country’s heritage, and has since spearheaded several notable spirits, including Almave. He adds: “We are pleased to have maintained the true production and craft of making tequila, but without the alcohol. While there are faster ways to make this, we could not imagine a worthwhile ‘spirit’ without it.”

Lewis Hamilton

Iván Saldaña

Here, we sit down with Saldaña to discuss the tasting notes of this first-of-its-kind non-alcoholic tequila alternative that balances heritage, craftsmanship, and modernity.

TASTING NOTE 1: COOKED AGAVE

The base of the spirit is blue agave, which gives a distinct cooked agave flavour due to the traditional roasting process used during its production, and this contributes to a sweet, earthy character in the aroma and taste.

TASTING NOTE 2: CARAMEL, BROWN SUGAR AND CACAO

The ageing process in barrels and the natural caramelisation of sugars in the agave brings about this flavour. Similar to caramel, brown sugar hints arise from the sugar content of the agave and its transformation during the production process, and gives a deeper, molasses-like sweetness to the flavour profile, with a hint of dark chocolate or cacao.

TASTING NOTE 3: VANILLA

This note is a result of the ageing process in oak barrels, which release natural compounds like vanillin, and gives a smooth, comforting sweetness and complexity.

TASTING NOTE 4: TOASTED WOOD AND ALLSPICE

Aged in wooden barrels, the liquid and the wood come together to give a toasted wood, smoky and warm aromatic flavour, like cinnamon, clove, and nutmeg, and these all contribute to the depth and structure of the drink.

Almave Ámbar

TASTING NOTE 5: BALANCED SWEETNESS, ACIDITY AND BITTERNESS

The agave's natural sweetness combines with slight acidity, providing a balanced taste that ensures the drink isn't too heavy or sweet. There's a slight bitterness too that rounds out the profile, preventing it from being too sugary and helping the other flavours to stand out.

ALMAVE ÁMBAR

£29.99

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