Our Favorite Blanco Tequilas

Named for Don Felipe Camarena, the man who established La Alteña Distillery in 1937 and where El Tesoro is distilled today. The agaves used in its production are 100% estate-grown agaves from Los Altos (aka Highlands) of Jalisco. After the agaves cook for three days in a horno (oven), they are then crushed by a two-ton tahona stone. Fermentation and distillation includes not only the aguamiel (cooked agave juice), but the fibers and pulp. It is distilled to proof meaning no water is added. It is bottled without aging at 80 proof. Note: Packaging and name update from Platinum to Blanco Tequila in April 2018. (SRP $50)

Tequila Ocho are single estate tequilas that are a collaboration between Tomas Estes and the Camarena family. The name of the ranch is a play on the word "maguey" - another word for "agave." The agaves used in this tequila were harvested at a slightly higher brix level, 27-28%, which is 5% higher than average, and grown in gray clay soil.

The ArteNOM brand is a selection tequilas highlighting not only where the tequila is produced (the NOM) but the Master Mezcalero who distills it. This tequila was produced at NOM 1580, the Destiladora El Paraiso by Gabriel López-Garibay who uses agaves sourced at his Rancho El Olvido in Los Altos of Jalisco.

Tequila ArteNOM Selección de 1549 Orgánico Blanco was produced using USDA certified organic agaves sourced from the Tequila Valley in Jalisco. After the agaves are halved and quartered, they are steam-roasted in a brick kiln oven for 24 hours. After fermentation, the juice is distilled to 54% ABV and reduced to 80 proof with demineralized water. This was produced at NOM 1549, Destilería Refugio by Master Mezcalero Ramón Sandoval--all of this information proudly stated on the front of the bottle.

Familia Camarena Silver is a 100% blue agave tequila distilled by the Camarena family who have been planting and harvesting agave in the Jalisco Highlands (Los Altos) since 1860. The agave piñas or centers are hand harvested and typically weight more than 100 pounds. The piñas are slow roasted in traditional stone ovens for several days before the juices are fermented and distilled.

Living up to its name, Tequila Pueblo Viejo is produced at San Matias, one of the oldest distilleries in Jalisco, Mexico. The blanco is made from 100% agave grown in the Highlands (Los Altos). This blanco is the distillery's flagship, bottled unaged straight from the still.

Valles is the brainchild of Siembra Azul founder David Suro, who wanted to create a tequila at the very first distillery he'd visited, Distileria Cascahuin (NOM 1123). The lowland Valles area in which it is located is known for its mineral-rich agave grown in the volcanic soils of El Arenal, Jalisco. The agave is slow roasted for up to 72 hours and shredded 4 times for optimal use of its sugars. It is meticulously fermented in a combination of Mamposteria (a stone structure enclosed by fiberglass) and stainless steel tanks. It is then distilled once in stainless steel with copper coil, then again in more slowly in small copper pot stills, bottled unaged.

As part of the second release of Expressiones del Corazón, this limited Artisanal Edition Blanco uses 100% blue weber agave with its brix measured before harvest, instead of traditional clear cut. Two sets were harvested for the blanco - one with lower sugar and one with higher. This blend is the unaged spirit that also goes into the expressions aged in selected barrels once used for different marks of Buffalo Trace bourbon and rye.

Casamigos is a tequila brand created by friends George Clooney, Rande Gerber, and Mike Meldman. They have chosen NOM 1416 (Productos Finos de Agave) to be where this tequila is made and agaves from the Highlands of Jalisco are chosen for distillation. Their blanco rests for 2 months in stainless-steel before bottling at 80 proof.

The agave sourced for Lunazul Tequila is grown at the Beckmann family-owned Tierra de Agaves estate in the town of Tequila in Jalisco, Mexico. The agave matures 7 - 9 years in the field and is transported directly to the distillery. Each batch is twice distilled in custom cognac stills. Lunazul Blanco Tequila is 100% agave and bottled unaged.