
Calle 23 Criollo Blanco Tequila
Calle 23 · NOM 1545
French-born master distiller Sophie Decobecq brings scientific rigor to this expression, using a proprietary criollo agave varietal she cultivated herself. The result is a blanco that's both technically fascinating and genuinely delicious — herbaceous, complex, and utterly distinctive. This is terroir-driven tequila at its most compelling.
Nose
Intensely herbaceous, with fresh-cut grass and green pepper giving way to bright citrus — lime zest and grapefruit pith. Cooked agave sits at the center, sweet and vegetal, with a mineral edge like wet river stone.
Palate
The palate opens with vibrant citrus and cooked agave, then shifts into white pepper and a subtle floral note — almost lavender. There's a clean mineral quality throughout, with a hint of almond on the mid-palate that adds unexpected depth.
Finish
Medium, with lingering white pepper, mineral salinity, and a final pulse of citrus. Clean and precise.
- Agave
- 100% Blue Weber Agave (Criollo varietal)
- Production
- Slow-cooked in traditional brick ovens, tahona-crushed, natural fermentation
- Region
- Jalisco, Mexico
- Cooking Method
- Slow-cooked in traditional brick ovens, tahona-crushed, natural fermentation
- Distillation
- Double distilled in copper pot stills
- NOM
- 1545
- Additives Free
- Yes
Cocktail Suggestion
Criollo Paloma — 2 oz Calle 23 Criollo Blanco · 1 oz fresh grapefruit juice · 0.5 oz lime juice · 0.25 oz agave syrup · Top with sparkling mineral water · Build in a salt-rimmed highball over ice, stir gently, garnish with a grapefruit wedge.
Food Pairing
Ceviche with habanero and mango
Sophie Decobecq, a French chemical engineer turned tequila maker, spent years developing her own criollo agave varietal in the highlands of Jalisco, bringing a scientist's precision to an ancient Mexican tradition.
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