El Mexicano High Proof Blanco

El Mexicano was born from the family collaboration of three generations. After creating the well-known brand Cazadores in the early 1970’s, the Bañuelos family sold it to Bacardi in 2002. This marked the beginning of the family’s next chapter.

A few years later the Bañuelos turned their attention to creating a new, authentically made 100% agave tequila rooted in traditional methods. In a “return to our roots” approach, the family focused on the agave-forward profiles originally crafted by their first Maestro Tequilero, Don Félix Bañuelos.

Today, those three generations work together cohesively instead of highlighting just one Maestro, which is kind of old school when you go back into tequila history. This family-owned operation brings decades of expertise and passion to El Mexicano, and it shows.

El Mexicano is made at the family distillery Hacienda El Mexicano (NOM 1588), in Arandas, Jalisco. You can taste the sweeter agave and minerality of the soil from the rich terroir the Highlands is known for.

Low-and-slow cooking methods (autoclave), lengthy open-air fermentation, and a strong emphasis on mature agave, all contribute to a profile that really delivers on flavor.

Nose: earthy / minerals / cooked and raw agave / brine / hints of fruit / apple / citrus -lime / faint bell pepper / herbal

Taste: sweet cooked agave / pepper / lime / citrus / minerals / earthy / hint of cinnamon / green apple / bell pepper / baking spice / alcohol

Finish: light-medium viscosity that is not watery but still thin—covers the palate acceptably, a touch of alcohol on the finish that seems to have some bite, remaining flavors of pepper/mineral/earthiness continue through the last part of the sip

Some brands seem intent on inventing their heritage. El Mexicano and the Bañuelos simply returned to theirs.