In the world of tequilas, life begins with blanco. No matter what other three variations you may be drinking, whether reposado, a\u00f1ejo, or extra a\u00f1ejo, they all start out as a blanco\u2014an unaged agave distillation. Consequently, the better the blanco, the better will be its transformation into any of tequila\u2019s aged expressions.<\/p>\n\n
That\u2019s why, for the tequila aficionado who wants to experience the true essence of agave, the crystal clear blanco (also called \u201csilver\u201d or \u201cplatinum\u201d by various distillers) offers the purest flavor, without aging, although a few producers rest their blancos in barrels or stainless-steel vats for about a month after distillation to let it settle into a subtle smoothness.<\/p>\n\n
In addition, some distillers mix their blancos with a touch of an older tequila (usually an a\u00f1ejo), thus producing a joven, which translates as \u201cyoung.\u201d However, technically, it can no longer be called a blanco, as it has had an aged tequila added, no matter how miniscule the amount. By comparison, these 11 blancos are the very best ways to savor the very heart and soul of Mexico\u2019s native drink.<\/p>\n\n
Tourists visiting Mexico are often surprised to find that the majority of tequilas sold there are 70 proof, while the same brands exported to the United States are traditionally 80 proof or slightly higher. But by law, tequilas cannot exceed 110 proof, which means Pasote\u2019s Still Strength is as high as any tequila can legally go. \u201cThis Still Strength blanco has an entirely unique production process as well as a fresh, colorful label design for the Mexican fall holidays,\u201d said August Sebastiani, president of 3 Badge Beverage Corp. the wine and spirits n\u00e9gociant behind Pasote.<\/p>\n\n
The single-estate agaves are baked for two days and then crushed prior to being fermented in open-air stainless-steel tanks with a proprietary blend of cultivated local yeasts. The first distillation utilizes a closer cut of the heart, with less liquid available for the second distillation. The higher proof of the first distillate removes greater concentrations of impurities from the heads and tails of the agave distillate. This is indeed a powerful pour, exploding with sweet plantains and burnt sugar layered with savory notes of green pepper and a touch of white pepper.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
In the world of tequilas, life begins with blanco. No matter what other three variations you may be drinking, whether reposado, a\u00f1ejo, or extra a\u00f1ejo, they all start out as a blanco\u2014an unaged agave distillation. Consequently, the better the blanco, the better will be its transformation into any of tequila\u2019s aged expressions. That\u2019s why, for […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":8582,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[21],"tags":[],"inhaltsart":[],"class_list":["post-8584","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news-en"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n