On this planet of tequilas, life begins with blanco. It doesn’t matter what different three variations you could be ingesting, whether or not reposado, añejo, or further añejo, all of them begin out as a blanco—an unaged agave distillation. Consequently, the higher the blanco, the higher will likely be its transformation into any of tequila’s aged expressions. That’s why, for …
On this planet of tequilas, life begins with blanco. It doesn’t matter what different three variations you could be ingesting, whether or not reposado, añejo, or further añejo, all of them begin out as a blanco—an unaged agave distillation. Consequently, the higher the blanco, the higher will likely be its transformation into any of tequila’s aged expressions.
That’s why, for the tequila aficionado who needs to expertise the true essence of agave, the crystal clear blanco (additionally referred to as “silver” or “platinum” by varied distillers) provides the purest taste, with out ageing, though a number of producers relaxation their blancos in barrels or stainless-steel vats for a few month after distillation to let it settle right into a refined smoothness.
As well as, some distillers combine their blancos with a contact of an older tequila (often an añejo), thus producing a joven, which interprets as “younger.” Nevertheless, technically, it might now not be referred to as a blanco, because it has had an aged tequila added, irrespective of how miniscule the quantity. By comparability, these 11 blancos are the easiest methods to savor the very coronary heart and soul of Mexico’s native drink.
Greatest General Blanco: Cierto Non-public Assortment Blanco
In 2017, enterprise capitalist and tequila connoisseur Todd Chaffee determined he wished to make the world’s most interesting tequila. Teaming up with grasp distillers Enrique Fonseca and his uncle, Sergio Mendoza— fourth- and fifth-generation agaveros (agave farmers)—he succeeded. Though it took seven years to convey this tequila to market, as a result of in a singular advertising ploy, the corporate held it again from nationwide distribution till 2023, when it had gained greater than 700 awards. The wait was price it, for this blanco begins out with a tantalizingly candy, clean bouquet that rapidly slips into floral, peppery notes that linger. Fittingly, “cierto” is Spanish for “true”—an ideal phrase to explain this pure, elegant tequila.
Greatest for Margaritas: Nosotros Blanco
A university task rapidly changed into a profession when Carlos Soto, who had emigrated from Costa Rica to the US, entered this blanco within the 2017 San Francisco World Spirits Competitors and gained a Double Gold for “Greatest Tequila.” I used to be one of many judges at that blind tasting occasion (each spirit was recognized by a letter, not by model) and keep in mind writing in my notes, “This is able to make a helluva Margarita.” After the judging, the entrants had been revealed, and the Double Gold Greatest in Class tequila was Nosotros. Possessing citrus influences from Highland agaves mixed with natural, peppery notes from Lowland agaves, the outcome has a barely rugged undertaste that simply begs for a measure of Grand Marnier Cordon Rouge and a squeeze of recent lime.
Greatest Craft Tequila: Casa Noble Blanco
Co-founder Pepe Hermosillo does issues a bit of otherwise than most different tequileros, utilizing solely licensed natural components, and distilling his tequila 3 times, surpassing the legally required double distillation. It’s that third distillation that defines and refines this blanco, giving it a smoothness that makes it imminently drinkable. Hermosillo rigorously selects his agave fields within the volcanic soil of the mountains of western Jalisco. That wealthy earthiness—together with undertones of cracked pepper and lightweight notes of vanilla—is mirrored on this tequila.
Greatest Tequila for Sipping Neat: El Negocio Blanco
Launched in October 2023, the inaugural bottle of this pure, one hundred pc additive-free tequila was auctioned on the tenth Annual WineaPAWlooza fundraiser in Napa Valley for a staggering $10,000—which makes its present worth of $90 a bottle look like a discount. Produced by Napa Valley vintner Adam Craun, co-founder of the 100-point cult Cabernet Sauvignon powerhouse Memento Mori, together with entrepreneur Nicholas Lutz and grasp distiller Chava Rosales, this tequila is made with Craun’s vintner-like method of matching one of the best components with the terroir together with a mixture of conventional and trendy methods, which incorporates utilizing 30 % stone tahonas and 70 % curler mills to crush the unique, smaller, and extra flavorful lowland tierra negra (black earth) tequilana weber agaves that make up this spirit. The outcome is likely one of the richest, deepest, most intense agave flavors of any blanco now we have sipped. Peppery lime, roasted citrus, a touch of smoke, and a thick, candy agave end make this a tequila to be savored. Extraordinarily restricted, solely 700 instances had been produced of this preliminary launch—or “classic”—as winemaker Craun calls it.
Greatest for Cocktails: Patrón El Cielo
As one in every of this celebrated manufacturers’ newest entrees to its newly christened “status” class—reflecting Patrón’s elevated type and pricing— this blanco was made for mixing. To realize that objective, it’s the first blanco to be distilled 4 occasions, which brings out extra of the agave’s thick sweetness and releases further notes of recent cucumber and celery. “Whereas including one other stage of distillation is often misconceived as a perpetrator for diluting taste, that was not the case for Patrón El Cielo,” mentioned David Rodriguez, Patrón’s grasp distiller. Certainly, we discovered it invitations a riff on basic cocktails like a Bloody Mary or Martini.
Greatest Underneath $50: Teremana Blanco
This a number of award-winning small-batch tequila is partly owned by Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, the wrestler turned actor turned entrepreneur who really takes a private curiosity in Teremana. He was concerned in all 113 particular person tastings that resulted within the ultimate recipe for this blanco, which is shiny with recent citrus, tropical fruit, and roasted agave mixed with a touch of lemongrass. The Teremana identify itself interprets as “spirit of the earth,” linking the Latin phrase “terra,” with the Polynesian phrase “mana,” that means spirit, and reflecting the Samoan heritage of Johnson’s mom.
Greatest Splurge: Loco Puro Corazón
Gone are the times when tequila was considered only a low cost shot to get a fast buzz. This blanco is on the reverse finish of that spectrum. In actual fact, it is likely one of the most meticulously crafted ultra-premium tequilas you should purchase. Its identify means “pure coronary heart” in Spanish and refers to the truth that when a distilled liquid comes off the copper pot stills, it trickles out in three distinct evolutions. First is the “heads” a tough tasting spirit that steadily evolves into the “coronary heart,” the “corazón” or center and purest a part of the distillate. Then comes the final half, the “tails,” which lacks the flavorful purity of the center. Whereas distillers naturally preserve the “coronary heart,” they often redistill the heads and tails to attempt to salvage no matter small quantity of the center they might have been missed. Not so with Loco Puro Corazón. They use solely the purest distillation of the center, with out redistilling the heads or tails. The result’s an ultra-elegant blanco, tender as velvet, with candy essences of pure agave, delicate herbs, and a contact of mint and eucalyptus. Puro Corazón rightfully deserves to be poured and loved on very particular events.
Greatest Single Property: Tequila Ocho Plata Puntas 2023 Single Property
The puntas, or “distiller’s lower,” of agave spirits are thought-about essentially the most coveted a part of the distillate and are historically put aside by the producer to be loved with family and friends on particular events. That is the second launch of this coveted overproof expression of the model’s award-winning plata tequila, following the spirit’s introduction in 2022. The only property Highland agaves used to create this tequila had been harvested from Rancho Mesa Colorada, a subject overseen by the household of legendary tequilero and Tequila Ocho co-founder Carlos Camarena. With a 33 % common sugar content material for the piñas, and clocking in at 106 proof, the flavour is very concentrated, buttery, and bursting with over-ripe agaves mixed with ancho chiles, cracked black pepper; salted butterscotch, almonds, and inexperienced apples. “Puntas is an expression which, due to the excessive proof of the spirit, we initially might solely make obtainable on the market at our distillery,” Camarena says. “After we lastly bottled and launched it in early 2022, it was so well-received that we knew we needed to create this second bottling for tequila aficionados.” Truthful warning: though formally listed at $75, count on to pay a premium for this uncommon blanco.
Greatest Celeb-Backed: Flecha Azul Blanco
It’s not tough to search out quite a few celebrities hopping on the tequila bandwagon, however this one not solely has true Mexican roots, however can boast of changing a wine-loving A-lister to embrace the agaves for actual. Created by Mexican-born Aron Marquez together with first-generation Mexican American, Abraham Ancer, Flecha Azul quickly received the eye of actor Mark Wahlberg, who joined the staff as an investor. “It’s a top quality tequila, completely additive-free, and you may inform as quickly as you style it,” Wahlberg says. “I used to be all the time a wine man, by no means a giant tequila drinker, till I tasted Flecha Azul.” Rested for 2 months in stainless-steel tanks after distillation, the honey-sweet taste is laced with ripe fruit and faint peppery notes. No marvel Wahlberg prefers this blanco for his cocktails.
Greatest Excessive-Proof: Pasote Nonetheless Power
Vacationers visiting Mexico are sometimes shocked to search out that almost all of tequilas bought there are 70 proof, whereas the identical manufacturers exported to the US are historically 80 proof or barely larger. However by regulation, tequilas can’t exceed 110 proof, which suggests Pasote’s Nonetheless Power is as excessive as any tequila can legally go. “This Nonetheless Power blanco has a completely distinctive manufacturing course of in addition to a recent, colourful label design for the Mexican fall holidays,” mentioned August Sebastiani, president of three Badge Beverage Corp. the wine and spirits négociant behind Pasote. The only-estate agaves are baked for 2 days after which crushed previous to being fermented in open-air stainless-steel tanks with a proprietary mix of cultivated native yeasts. The primary distillation makes use of a more in-depth lower of the center, with much less liquid obtainable for the second distillation. The upper proof of the primary distillate removes larger concentrations of impurities from the heads and tails of the agave distillate. That is certainly a strong pour, exploding with candy plantains and burnt sugar layered with savory notes of inexperienced pepper and a contact of white pepper.
Greatest Natural: 123 Natural Blanco
With blanco, reposado, and añejo representing the “123” of this USDA licensed natural model’s identify, the 1 is kind of logically a blanco. Made with agaves which can be as a lot as 10 years outdated—a rarity in right this moment’s fast-moving tequila surroundings—this blanco displays founder David Ravandi’s devotion to creating agave spirits that categorical the last word in terroir and complexity. With delicate floral aromas and flavors of recent agave, citrus and a refined peppery kick within the end, that is the proper blanco for sipping on the rocks or utilizing as a base for cocktails.
Often Requested Questions
How must you drink blanco tequila?
Despite its earlier and now outdated repute, one of the best blancos are very refined spirits. They’re additionally very versatile, due to—relying on manufacturers—being adaptable to sipping straight, having fun with with ice, or utilized in cocktails. They will even be taken as a standard shooter, though a lot of a blanco tequila’s refined nuances could also be misplaced when you simply “knock it again.”
How does tequila differ from mezcal?
Each, by regulation, should be made in Mexico and distilled from roasted agaves, however tequila can solely use the Blue Weber selection and should be distilled within the city of Tequila in Jalisco and 4 different particularly designated Mexican states: Guanajuato, Michoacán, Nayarit, and Tamaulipas. Additionally, the agaves are primarily steam-roasted in ovens. Then again, mezcal could be made in any of 9 specified Mexican states, primarily in Oaxaca, but in addition in Durango, Michoacán, Tamaulipas, Guanajuato, Guerrero, San Luis Potosí, Zacatecas and Puebla. As well as, mezcal is often constructed from agaves which were cooked by fireplace, smoke, and warmth in rock-lined pits,
How did we select the tequilas on this checklist?
I begin by “nosing” the tequila, pouring a small quantity in a Glencairn tasting glass, simply sufficient to fill its broad base, which narrows in direction of the highest to pay attention the aromas of the liquid. With blancos I’m in search of the purity of agave—it may be crisp and herbaceous, or refined and clean, however the essence of the agave must be there. In any case, you drink a blanco to actually get the spirit of the plant that offers tequila its character.
Why must you belief us?
Richard Carleton Hacker has been writing about spirits, eating places, wines and cigars for over forty years and has written for Robb Report since 1995. His work has additionally appeared in quite a few different way of life magazines, together with Playboy, The Quarterly Evaluate of Wines, Tasting Panel, and the Somm Journal. As well as, he served for 10 years as a decide and staff captain for the San Francisco World Spirits Competitors. He has authored 11 books revealed in the US, Nice Britain, and Germany, together with The Final Cigar Guide and The Connoisseurs Information To Worldwide Spirits. He was knighted in Germany and is an honorary member of quite a few whisky and wine societies, together with the Scotch whisky trade’s unique Keeper of the Quaich honorary society (the place he’s one in every of fewer than 200 folks worldwide to carry the coveted title of Grasp of the Quaich), and the Ordre des Coteaux de Champagne. He has traveled the world visiting numerous distilleries in Scotland, France, and Italy and, in fact, Mexico. His books on spirits and cigars are at the moment obtainable on Amazon.