Paladar Tequila 'Still Strength' Blanco, Jalisco, Mexico

Paladar Tequila “Still Strength” Blanco is a 100-proof, unaged tequila bottled without dilution, giving its seven-year Blue Weber agave a particularly direct, expressive profile. Brick-oven cooking, open-air fermentation in pine boxes, and double distillation in copper and stainless-steel stills shape this Jalisco release, which brings intensity while keeping its cooked-agave, citrus, and pepper character in focus.

Product Details:

• Alcohol by Volume (ABV): 50%.
• Proof: 100.
• Agave Composition: 100% Blue Weber agave.
• Agave Source: Producer-grown agave, harvested at seven years of age.
• Cooking: Slow-cooked in brick ovens.
• Extraction: Roller mill, as reported in The Tequila Report’s product specifications.
• Fermentation: Open-air fermentation in pine boxes using wild yeast and a proprietary yeast blend.
• Water: Deep-well water, as reported in The Tequila Report’s product specifications.
• Distillation: Double-distilled in a blend of copper and stainless-steel pot stills.
• Resting: Stainless steel.
• Bottling: Bottled without dilution at 100 proof; each bottle is hand-dipped in volcanic soil from the producer’s agave fields.
• Producer / Distiller: Tequila Arette de Jalisco, S.A. de C.V.
• NOM: 1109, the registered producer identification for Tequila Arette de Jalisco.
• Master Distiller: Eduardo Orendain Jr.

Sensory Description:

Clear and brilliant, the tequila opens with fresh-cut and cooked agave, citrus zest, and white pepper, with a distinct stony, mineral edge. The palate is rich and creamy in texture for a high-proof blanco: cooked agave leads, joined by green pepper and fresh vegetal notes, while a hint of unripe pineapple brings a brighter, lightly fruity accent. It finishes long and warming, with lingering agave sweetness, peppery spice, a trace of anise, and mineral notes.

Awards & Accolades:

• 2026: 88/100, The Tequila Report.

Producer’s Background:

Paladar draws on the Orendain family’s long history in tequila production. The family began making tequila in the early 1900s, and the El Llano distillery in Tequila, Jalisco, was rebuilt in 1978. Arette, another brand made at the distillery, launched in 1986; the CRT currently lists Paladar, Arette, and Arette Gran Clase under NOM 1109. Paladar launched in 2022, bringing Eduardo Orendain Jr.’s family distilling tradition together with a newer brand focused on traditional tequila methods and experimental expressions.

Serving Suggestions:

Serve neat in a small tulip-shaped tasting glass or copita to let the agave, citrus, and mineral aromas open; a few drops of water can soften the proof and reveal additional detail. Its intensity also makes it a strong choice for a spirit-forward Margarita or other tequila cocktail. Pair with grilled shrimp or pork, citrus-marinated dishes, roasted peppers, or fresh salsa, where the tequila’s cooked agave and pepper notes can meet the food’s brightness and spice.