The Still & The VineSchool of Wine & Spirits
ArteNOM Seleccion de 1579 Blanco
TequilaIssue 28

ArteNOM Seleccion de 1579 Blanco

ArteNOM (Grover Sanschagrin) · Destilería El Pandillo (NOM 1579), Jesús María, Jalisco

$4581.4 (40.7% ABV) proofUnagedPandillo, registered as NOM 1579, is run by master distiller Felipe Camarena, a third-generation tequilero whose family has been growing agave in these volcanic soils for decades
ArteNOM 1579 Blanco is a masterclass in tequila terroir. Felipe Camarena's highland agave, grown in volcanic red clay at elevation, produces a spirit with a mineral depth and citrus brightness that lowland blancos simply cannot match. This is not a tequila designed to disappear into a margarita — though it makes an extraordinary one — it's designed to be sipped and studied. The volcanic soil writes itself into the glass as clearly as limestone writes itself into bourbon. At its price point, it's one of the finest expressions of place in the entire tequila category. Cocktail — "The Highland Paloma": Combine 2 oz ArteNOM 1579 Blanco, 1 oz fresh grapefruit juice, 0.5 oz fresh lime juice, and 0.25 oz agave nectar. Shake with ice and strain into a salt-rimmed Collins glass over fresh ice. Top with 2 oz Topo Chico mineral water. The mineral character of both the tequila and the sparkling water creates a Paloma of uncommon depth.

Kit Aromas

Tasting Notes

Nose

Bright cooked agave and citrus zest — lemon, lime, and a hint of grapefruit — rise immediately. Beneath them, a clean mineral quality, almost like wet stone, that signals the volcanic highland terroir. Faint floral notes of lavender and white pepper emerge with time.

Palate

Silky entry with cooked agave sweetness balanced by a vibrant citrus acidity. The mid-palate reveals the terroir: an earthy, mineral depth that grounds the bright fruit. Green herbs and white pepper build toward the finish. Remarkably complex for an unaged spirit.

Finish

Medium-long and clean, with lingering agave sweetness, a peppery warmth, and a mineral dryness that recalls the volcanic soil where the agave grew. Tequila & Mezcal

Specifications
Agave
100% Blue Weber Agave, highland-grown at elevation in volcanic red clay soil
Production
Brick oven cooked (autoclave-free), roller mill extracted, stainless steel open-air fermentation, double-distilled in copper pot stills
Serve & Pair

Cocktail Suggestion

Cocktail — "The Highland Paloma": Combine 2 oz ArteNOM 1579 Blanco, 1 oz fresh grapefruit juice, 0.5 oz fresh lime juice, and 0.25 oz agave nectar. Shake with ice and strain into a salt-rimmed Collins glass over fresh ice. Top with 2 oz Topo Chico mineral water. The mineral character of both the tequila and the sparkling water creates a Paloma of uncommon depth.

Food Pairing

Ceviche with fresh snapper, lime, and serrano pepper. The mineral and citrus notes in the tequila mirror the bright acidity of the ceviche, while the agave sweetness balances the heat.

Train These Aromas
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