The Still & The VineSchool of Wine & Spirits
El Tesoro Blanco
TequilaIssue 82

El Tesoro Blanco

El Tesoro · La Alteña Distillery

80 proofNASJalisco, Mexico
El Tesoro Blanco is a textbook expression of traditional highland tequila production. The tahona-crushed agave and copper pot distillation create a blanco with unusual depth and texture — the kind of bottle that converts skeptics.

Kit Aromas

Tasting Notes

Nose

Bright cooked agave dominates, with lime zest and wet mineral notes underneath. White pepper and a hint of green herb add dimension without competing.

Palate

Creamy entry with sweet agave, then citrus and grassy notes expand across the mid-palate. There's a subtle earthiness that grounds the sweetness and a gentle peppery bite that adds tension.

Finish

Medium length with clean agave sweetness and a mineral tail. The grassiness fades slowly, leaving a pleasant herbal warmth.

Specifications
Agave
100% Blue Weber Agave (Highland, Arandas)
Production
Slow-roasted in stone ovens, tahona-crushed, naturally fermented
Region
Jalisco, Mexico
Cooking Method
Slow-roasted in stone ovens, tahona-crushed, naturally fermented
Distillation
Tahona-crushed, double distilled in small copper pot stills
NOM
NOM 1139
Additives Free
Yes
Serve & Pair

Cocktail Suggestion

Highland Paloma — 2 oz El Tesoro Blanco · 1 oz fresh grapefruit juice · 0.5 oz fresh lime juice · 0.25 oz agave nectar · 2 oz Topo Chico · Build over ice in a Collins glass, stir gently, garnish with a grapefruit wedge and pinch of sal de gusano.

Food Pairing

Ceviche with fresh mango and habanero

The Story

Crafted at La Alteña Distillery in the highlands of Arandas by third-generation master distiller Carlos Camarena, El Tesoro continues to use a volcanic stone tahona and small copper pot stills in a process largely unchanged since the 1930s.

Train These Aromas
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