Hiatus Blanco

You know what’s an unusual background for a tequila brand owner? International helicopter sales.

That’s what Kris DeSoto was doing when he started Hiatus. The name Hiatus is a nod to DeSoto setting aside his previous work to enter the tequila business.

DeSoto had previously lived in Mexico and sought to bring a classic flavor profile to the United States, especially the New York area, where he now resides. In fact, Hiatus was our choice at The Tequila Report as the best hometown pick for New York Giants fans. The tequila is also included in our Top 150 Tequila Brands.

Collaborating with the longstanding La Cofradía (NOM 1137) distillery in the town of Tequila, DeSoto delivered a tequila that debuted in 2018. In 2023, the brand picked up broader distribution and notoriety with an equity investment from MMA athlete Michael Chandler, who now serves as a primary Hiatus ambassador.

This 40% ABV blanco features agave cooked in stone ovens, extracted with a screw press, fermented with natural yeast in stainless-steel tanks, and double-distilled in stainless stills with copper coils.

One particularly noteworthy production step is that, after distillation, Hiatus is filtered through micro-cellulose fibers and carbon filters, then oxygenated for 24 hours. This filtration/aeration process typically adds “roundness” to tequila, removing some of the harsher top notes (especially on the finish) and can also mellow aromas.

In this case, given that the La Cofradía distillery makes many brands with a signature vegetal “funk,” did this final step make this blanco more approachable?

Aroma: Indeed, this is certainly less vegetal than other blancos I’ve tried from NOM 1137. Hiatus leans more toward raw agave, lime, and those cinnamon pecans you get at the fair, along with a hearty sniff of cut hay.

Flavor: Soft in the mouth, with a very pleasant initial flavor. The overall impression is minerals, earth, lemongrass, white pepper, and a nice grassy note.

I will say that this isn’t the most harmonious tequila. The first note is more lemongrass, then it shifts to minerals, then you get the pepper. All the individual flavors are good; they just don’t dance perfectly together in the mouth. Also, none of them are particularly deep or nuanced, but they’re tasty nonetheless.

Finish: The transition to the finish is a bit jarring, but once you get there, it’s a longish ride for a blanco and leaves you wanting another sip.

Overall, this is a solid blanco, if not particularly complex. I’d actually love to try a 44% or 45% version of this tequila, with the flavors amped up a bit more.

Hiatus Blanco is perfectly fine as a sipper and excellent for cocktails. I’d lean toward a paloma over a margarita with this one.

More from Hiatus: All of our Hiatus coverage, including reviews, lists, scores, and more.