Tapatío

Tequila conversations often become dominated by celebrity brands and expensive bottles remarkably quickly. Tapatío usually pulls things back towards what many enthusiasts actually want to drink.

Produced at La Alteña Distillery in Arandas by the Camarena family, Tapatío has become one of the most respected traditional tequila brands in Mexico. The distillery has been producing tequila for generations and remains heavily associated with old-school production methods and a strong focus on agave character.

The tequila is made from mature Blue Weber agave and generally avoids the excessive sweetness or heavy flavouring that sometimes appears in more commercial styles. Instead you get cooked agave, pepper, citrus, herbs and earthy notes supported by careful distillation and maturation where appropriate.

The Blanco is particularly admired because it showcases the distillery character so clearly. The aged expressions add vanilla, spice and oak while still allowing the agave to remain central.

Tapatío has earned a loyal following because it feels authentic without constantly needing to announce that fact. Usually a good sign in tequila.