Tapatio Tequila2023-02-16T19:52:10-08:00

Tapatío: Cult Favorite Tequila

Tapatío is a highly-sought after tequila crafted by La Alteña, a family-owned distillery, making fine tequila since 1937. Located in the mountainous region of Jalisco, Mexico, the region known for growing the best blue agave and producing top shelf tequila. For many years now we’ve had a close relationship with the Camarena family, master distiller to master distiller.  And it was at this distillery that Miles earned the Grand Master Distiller title, after the release of Charbay Tequila.

Select From the Exclusive Tequila Tapatío Collection

Tapatio Tequila blanco bottle image
Tequila tapatio blanco overproof 110 bottle image
Bottle of Reposado tequila by Tapatio
Tequila tapatio excelencia bottle image

Don Felipe Camarena, founder of Tapatío, was born into a family of tequila distillers, with a prestigious history that dates back to the early 1800’s.

With distilling tequila in his blood, Don Felipe opened La Alteña distillery in 1937, in the mountains of Jalisco, Mexico. Not only is it a distillery but it’s an estate growing premium quality blue weber agave. Over the decades the distillery has stayed family owned, passing on from generation to generation. First his son Felipe J. Camarena Orozco, who in turn passed it on to his daughters, Lilianna and Gabriela, and Carlos, his son. Carlos is Master Distiller today, crafting the finest tequila to the same standards of excellence as set by his grandfather, Don Felipe.

Questions We’re Often Asked

Is Blanco Tequila aged?2022-10-17T22:15:39-07:00

Blanco is a clear tequila, therefore its name ‘blanco’, white in Spanish. It’s generally not aged in the traditional barrel way. But Tapatío Blanco and overproof Blanco 110 are rested for 6 months in stainless steel tanks. Why the rest? The time in tanks allows the oxidation process to occur, settling the flavors before bottling. The overall effect is a smoother taste naturally without dilution. As we believe at Charbay, Tapatío understands the importance of patience in distilling. Release nothing before its time.

What is the difference between Tequila and Mezcal?2022-10-17T19:12:02-07:00

To be labeled as Tequila it must be made in one of five areas of Mexico (One state – Jalisco, and four municipalities – Guanajuato, Michoacán, Nayarit, or Tamaulipas) and be distilled from only one species of agave – Blue Agave.

To be labeled as Mezcal it must be made in one of nine areas of Mexico (Oaxaca, Guerrero, Michoacán, Puebla, Durango, San Luís Potosí, Zacatecas, Guanajuato, and Tamaulipas) but can be distilled from any species of agave, not just Blue Agave.

What about the taste difference? Tequila tends to be more agave-forward, with a smoother, sweeter flavor. Mezcal is often considered to have a more savory and smoky flavor. But aging contributes to a richer flavor profile in Tequila, especially when aged for longer in used bourbon barrels as Tapatío Reposado, Añejo and Excelencia Extra Añejo are.

Which type of Tequila is the best for sipping?2022-10-17T19:14:37-07:00

The most well-known classifications of tequila are Blanco, Reposado, Añejo and Extra Añejo. Each have their virtues, but when it comes to sipping, most people prefer a tequila with some barrel aging. When a tequila rests inside a barrel, the liquid expands into the barrel’s wood, then contracts out again. As this natural process happens, day in day out, the liquid draws flavors and color from the wood, building complexity along the way. Being artisans of flavor, we like to offer spirits that delight you with their intricacies. And we believe in the purity of a well-made, handcrafted spirit, which is why we were drawn to the cult favorite, Tapatío. Like us, they are a family-owned, multi-generational distillery, producing high quality products people love. They don’t just deliver to the standards required of them, but go beyond to over-deliver for the customer. A great example of this in practice is the extra length of time Reposado, Añejo and Extra Añejo are aged in used barrels. It mightn’t make good business sense to age longer, but it sure makes sense from a flavor perspective…

Tapatío Reposado – 8 months (standard is 2 months)

Tapatío Añejo – 18 months (standard is 12 months)

Tapatío Excelencia Extra Añejo – 5 years (standard is 3 years). Additionally aged for 5 years in glass jugs.

Can Tequila be distilled anywhere?2023-01-20T02:29:45-08:00

To be labeled Tequila it must be:

  1. Made in Mexico
  2. From one of five authorized areas – Jalisco, Guanajuato, Michoacan, Nayarit or Tamaulipas
  3. Be distilled from 100% Blue Weber agave

If it doesn’t meet these requirements, it must be labeled as an “Agave Spirit” or Mezcal.

Tapatío Tequila meets all three conditions. It’s produced at the La Alteña distillery in the mountainous region of Jalisco, Mexico. This region is famous for growing the best blue weber agave.

Is Tequila Tapatío related to Tapatío hot sauce?2023-01-20T02:23:53-08:00

No they aren’t related but they share a common story.

“Tapatio” (m) or “Tapatia” (f) is a colloquial term to describe someone from the highlands of Mexico or from Guadalajara. Both are located in the state of Jalisco.

For the tequila, Jalisco is the premium growing region of blue weber agave and home to the most prestigious tequila distilleries, including Tapatío.

For the hot sauce, the company’s founders emigrated to America from Guadalajara, the capital of the state of Jalisco.

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