Our Favorite Tequilas & Mezcals From July

Exotico Tequila Reposado is made from 100% Blue Weber agave grown in the Los Altos region of Jalisco, Mexico. The agaves are steamed for 16 hours in an autoclave oven and then placed in a mill (a "molino") to be crushed. After being distilled twice in a copper pot-still, this expression is then aged six months in white oak barrels previously used to age bourbon. It is bottled at 40% ABV.

Exotico Tequila Blanco is made from 100% Blue Weber agave grown in the Los Altos region of Jalisco, Mexico. The agaves are steamed for 16 hours in an autoclave oven and then crushed in a mill. After fermentation with their proprietary yeast strain, it is distilled twice in a copper pot-still.

This reposado tequila was released in April 2016 by the Mexico City-based company, Auténtico Alacrán ("authentic scorpion"). It begins with 100% blue weber agave from the Los Altos (Highland) region of Jalisco, harvested 7 to 10 years after planting. The piñas (hearts) of the agave are vapor-cooked using local well water. After distillation, it ages for 4 months in American oak barrels, yielding a light amber hue.

Auténtico Alacrán ("authentic scorpion") was founded in 2010 and is based in Mexico City. Their blanco tequila, first appearing in the US in 2011, is double-distilled in column stills from 100% blue Weber agave at the Tierra de Agaves distillery (NOM 1513) in Jalisco's Tequila Valley - the specific coordinates are 20° 51' N 103° 45' W. The clear spirit is presented in a matte black bottle.

DeLeón Reposado was launched in November 2014 and is part of the brand's ultra-premium line of tequilas. The brand is co-owned by Diageo and rapper/entrepreneur, Sean "Diddy" Combs. Distilled from 100% blue weber agave from the Los Altos region of Jalisco, this reposado benefits from resting in both American oak and French oak casks.

After a name change and a little rebranding Marca Negra is back and as true as ever to its mission of bringing traditional mezcals to the world. Made at a traditional palenque in San Luis Del Rio using a tiny, rare and wild species, tobalá. This wild agave is small, low yielding but very high in sugar. They take an unusually long time to mature especially considering their size, however they pack a lot of character and an unmistakable flavor.