Matíari Blanco

The tequila market is definitely saturated. Because I’m lucky enough to try and write about so many tequilas, I love being introduced to something new that wakes up my palate.

I feel like a lot of the tequilas I’ve tried lately have played it safe. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, especially when a brand is trying to appeal to a broader market. But with so many new tequilas out there, Matíari Blanco was a pleasant surprise.

Matíari means “the first” in the Huichol language and pays tribute to the Huichol people of Mexico, who were among the earliest to distill agave using traditional pot stills.

The brand comes from Amatitán, just outside the town of Tequila, an area with a long history of agave-spirit production. It is produced at Tequilera Tateposco (NOM 1632), a historic site that the brand says dates to vino mezcal production as early as 1830.

The production is what really caught my attention.

Matíari is made in small batches using a clay-brick oven, a combination of roller-mill and tahona extraction, open-air fermentation, and both stainless-steel and copper pot stills. The first crush is done with a roller mill, followed by a second crush with a tahona. The first distillation is done in a stainless-steel pot still, and the second in a copper pot still.

Although “artisanal” is more of a marketing or descriptive term in tequila, rather than an official production category as it is in mezcal, it’s often used to describe tequilas that incorporate more traditional methods. Think brick ovens, tahona crushing, open fermentation with fibers, and copper pot stills.

Matíari uses a combination of traditional and more modern methods, and, for me, that combination gives this blanco a standout flavor profile that really spoke to my palate.

Aroma: Green vegetal notes, green mango, citrus, lemon zest, pepper, and savory notes, with a subtle spiced-tobacco note.

Flavor: I literally said, “OMG, this is delicious.” Eucalyptus leads into layers of flavor. It starts with some floral notes, especially orange blossom, then moves into savory and herbal notes of sage and lemongrass, with a little raw sweet potato.

Finish: So savory. A nice lingering mint note remains, while the tobacco notes from the aroma subtly come through on the finish.

What stands out to me is how much this tequila changes across the palate. It starts bright and floral, moves into earthy, herbal flavors, and finishes very savory.

I love seeing more tequilas get back to the roots of tequila production and incorporate traditional methods, even if those methods can sometimes create a more rustic flavor profile that may not appeal to every consumer.

What I like about Matíari is the combination of traditional and more modern methods. For me, it seems to soften some of that rustic character without taking away what makes the tequila interesting, which I think makes it approachable to a broader range of consumers.

Overall, I’m really impressed with this blanco. In a market with so many tequilas playing it safe, this one gave me something different to taste and talk about. I would love to see a high-proof version and what it could bring to the flavor profile.

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