
El Pandillo La Ventana Blanco
La Ventana · Destiladora El Pandillo
An unfussy, transparent highland blanco from one of tequila's most respected distilling minds — a bright, early-morning expression of Los Altos agave that punches well above its price.
Nose
Bright cooked agave leads with fresh-cut green apple, lime zest, and a lift of white pepper. Underneath sits a wet-stone minerality and a whisper of jasmine — the aromatic equivalent of dawn breaking over the highlands.
Palate
Silky and gently sweet with roasted agave, honeydew, and pear. Mid-palate brings cinnamon-tinged spice, a saline mineral streak, and a soft herbaceous note of mint. Balanced weight — neither austere nor heavy.
Finish
Medium-length and clean, closing on citrus pith, cracked pepper, and lingering sweet agave. Warming rather than hot, with a mineral echo.
- Agave
- 100% Blue Weber agave (Agave tequilana), estate-grown in the highlands of Los Altos at roughly 6-8 years maturity
- Production
- Agave slow-cooked in traditional masonry ovens, shredded via Camarena's custom-built 'Frankenstein' mill, open-air fermented with rainwater and wild ambient yeasts, and double-distilled in copper pot stills. No additives.
- Region
- Jesús María, Los Altos, Jalisco, Mexico
- Cooking Method
- Agave slow-cooked in traditional masonry ovens, shredded via Camarena's custom-built 'Frankenstein' mill, open-air fermented with rainwater and wild ambient yeasts, and double-distilled in copper pot stills. No additives.
- NOM
- NOM 1579
- Additives Free
- Yes
Cocktail Suggestion
Ventana al Amanecer — 2 oz El Pandillo La Ventana Blanco, 3/4 oz fresh lime juice, 1/2 oz grapefruit juice, 1/2 oz honey syrup (2:1), 2 dashes orange bitters. Shake with ice, strain into a chilled coupe, and garnish with a grapefruit peel expressed over the surface.
Food Pairing
Grilled shrimp tacos with charred pineapple salsa and a squeeze of lime — the tequila's citrus-mineral brightness mirrors the smoke and sweetness of the plate.
Crafted by Felipe Camarena at his self-built El Pandillo distillery — home to the famed 'Frankenstein' shredder and rainwater-fed stills — La Ventana is his window into pure, unadorned highland agave.
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