Trujillo Cuarenta Blanco

Trujillo is a family-owned producer with roots in agave farming dating back more than 50 years.

Located in Capilla de Guadalupe, in the Los Altos region of Jalisco, Tequilería Trujillo (NOM 1634) embraces transparency quite literally, with large glass windows across the front that allow passersby to see the operation from the highway.

The brand also produces a particularly interesting lineup of blancos, each offering a different look at how changes in production can shape the final flavor of tequila.

Among the core lineup—Tahona, Carbon, Crystal, and Cuarenta—the Cuarenta might just be my favorite flavor profile.

Bottled at 40% ABV and USDA-certified organic, Cuarenta utilizes brick-oven cooking, roller mill extraction, open-air fermentation in stainless steel, and copper-pot distillation.

What makes the process especially interesting is the addition of cooked agave fibers to a botanical basket inside the still, allowing the distillation vapors to interact with the fibers as they pass through. Distilling with agave fibers is a distinctive part of Trujillo’s approach.

Nose: Sweet cooked agave leads, with anise, pepper, wet-stone minerality, and faint citrus.

Taste: It closely follows the nose with cooked agave, anise, green herbs, pepper, and brine, faint citrus, and floral notes.

Finish: Briny, herbal, and peppery, with the greener flavors lingering after the sip.

Cuarenta is a strong example of why tasting different expressions from the same distillery side by side can be so compelling. It has enough character to make for an enjoyable neat pour, while its briny, herbal profile makes it especially tempting in a martini or a favorite tequila cocktail.

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