Feature Friday
Tapatio
In 1937, Don Felipe Camarena established La Alteña Distillery in Arandas, Jalisco, amidst the red volcanic soils of the highlands. A third-generation agave farmer, he was driven by a passion to produce tequila using time-honored methods. His commitment to quality and tradition laid the foundation for what Tapatío represents today.
The Camarena family’s dedication didn’t stop there. Don Felipe’s grandson, Carlos Camarena, continues this legacy as the master distiller at La Alteña. Under his guidance, Tapatío has maintained its artisanal production methods, including slow-cooking agave in brick ovens and fermenting in wooden tanks, ensuring each bottle reflects the family’s unwavering commitment to authenticity.
Tapatio Blanco
Tapatio Blanco Still holding strong, decades later.
If you’re just getting into tequila, Tapatío Blanco might be your perfect launchpad. It’s the kind of bottle that quietly earns respect—not flashy, not hyped to the moon—but it’s stood the test of time for a reason.
The flavor profile here is classic and clean: cooked agave leads the way, with a kick of black pepper, a splash of citrus, and a touch of minerality that reminds you this came from the earth, not a chemistry set. It doesn’t try to overwhelm or compete with your tastebuds—it just shows up and does its job like a seasoned pro.
What really stands out is the balance. This blanco isn’t too bold, too light, too sweet, or too sharp. It’s the Goldilocks of tequila—just right. You could easily sip it neat, pour it over ice, or sneak it into a cocktail if that’s your thing (it’s not mine, but hey, you do you).
Over 1,700 reviews on Tequila Matchmaker average an 87—impressive for a bottle that’s not a hype-driven limited release. It’s dependable and always worth having on the shelf
Tapatío Blanco isn’t trying to be a showstopper. It’s trying to be your everyday go-to, and in that lane, it wins. Solid, sippable, and respectful of tradition.
Sip-Worthy Rating: 
(4 Tequila Glasses)
NOM: 1139
Agave Type: Blue Weber
Harvest Region: Jalisco
Cooking Method: Stone Brick Ovens
Extraction Process: Roller Mill, Tahona
Water Source: Deep well water
Still Type: Copper Pot
Fermentation: Wood Open-air with fibers
Distillatiion: 2x
Aging:
40% abv (80-proof)
Price Range: $41.99
Tapatio 110 Blanco
Quiet. Confident. Bold
Some bottles shout for attention. Tapatío 110 just sits back and watches. It’s the best musician in the room—and it’s not even playing an instrument. Just soaking in the scene, letting the others perform, fully aware its moment will come. And when it does? Boom. Show-stealer.
This high-proof blanco is a quiet legend. While others chase still-strength hype, this one’s been holding court for years—bold, confident, and completely unbothered. Built on generations of Camarena family tradition, it doesn’t follow the trend. It sets the tone.
Flavors? All present and accounted for. Cooked agave leads the charge, with black pepper, citrus, and a refreshing line of minerality that grounds it in the highlands. There’s heat—of course—but it’s the kind that knows how to behave. Balanced, focused, never overwhelming. Like a salsa that flirts with fire but keeps its cool.
Then, just when you think you’ve figured it out—bam! A flash of grape? Something sweet and unexpected that somehow belongs. This bottle keeps you guessing, and that’s half the fun.
If you haven’t given this one a shot, you’re missing out. Tapatío 110 doesn’t need to raise its voice. It knows exactly who it is—and that comes from a legacy built to last.
Sip-Worthy Rating: 1/2 (4.5 Tequila Glasses)
NOM: 1139
Agave Type: Blue Weber
Harvest Region: Jalisco
Cooking Method: Stone Brick Ovens
Extraction Process: Roller Mill, Tahona
Water Source: Deep well water
Still Type: Copper Pot
Fermentation: Wood Open-air with fibers
Distillatiion: 2x
Aging:
55% abv (110-proof)
Price Range: $59.99
Tapatio Reposado
Steady as she goes.
This isn’t the wild one in your lineup—it’s the one that always shows up. Tapatío Reposado is blue jeans and a T-shirt: comfortable, reliable, and always in style. No frills, no flash—just honest craftsmanship in a glass, the kind that could only come from a family like the Camarenas.
Right from the start, it’s smooth. Flavors of cooked agave and black pepper lay the foundation, followed by a swirl of vanilla and that rich buttery goodness that sneaks in and sticks the landing. It’s mellow but not lazy—there’s depth here if you’re paying attention. You can almost feel the Blanco still lingering beneath it all, keeping everything grounded.
This one won’t crash your dessert table with fireworks or demand center stage. That’s not its role. This is the bottle you reach for when you want something solid—something that just works, every time. It lives right in the middle of your shelf, where it belongs. Not too flashy, not tattered or tired. Just dialed-in and dependable.
A true companion pour—and another steady hit from the always-consistent Camarena legacy.
Sip-Worthy Rating: 1/2 (3.5 Tequila Glasses)
NOM: 1139
Agave Type: Blue Weber
Harvest Region: Jalisco
Cooking Method: Stone Brick Ovens
Extraction Process: Roller Mill, Tahona
Water Source: Deep well water
Still Type: Copper Pot
Fermentation: Wood Open-air with fibers
Distillatiion: 2x
Aging: Bourbon Barrels
ABV/Proof: 40% abv (80-proof)
Price Range: $44.99
Tapatio Anejo
Not loud. Just pure style
The reposado’s big brother. Older, smoother, and strutting into the room with platform shoes, bell bottoms, white-rimmed sunglasses, and a velvet fedora. It shouldn’t work—but it absolutely does.
Tapatío Añejo has that effortless cool. It’s not loud. It doesn’t need to be. It’s been around long enough to know exactly who it is—shaped by time, and guided by the steady hands of the Camarena family.
From the first sip, you know it’s got character. Cooked agave and black pepper step up first, followed by mellow oak, soft vanilla, and a swirl of caramel that wraps it all together. Smooth and silky, with a rhythm that never misses a beat.
This isn’t the bottle pushing for attention—it’s the one the spotlight naturally finds. Newer, flashier añejos might crowd the shelf, but when this one walks by, they tip their hat.
It’s a vibe. A glass of aged confidence. A quiet nod to tradition, aged just right. And while it may not be the most dramatic pour in your collection, it’s one you’ll come back to. Again and again.
Tapatío Añejo reminds you that real swagger doesn’t need to shout—it just walks in, smiles, and takes its seat at the table.
Sip-Worthy Rating: 🥃🥃🥃 1/2 (3.5 Tequila Glasses)
NOM: 1139
Agave Type: Blue Weber
Harvest Region: Jalisco
Cooking Method: Stone Brick Ovens
Extraction Process: Roller Mill, Tahona
Water Source: Deep well water
Still Type: Copper Pot
Fermentation: Wood Open-air with fibers
Distillatiion: 2x
Aging: Bourbon Barrels
ABV/Proof: 40% abv (80-proof)
Price Range: $59.99
Tapatio Excelencia Extra Anejo
Made for leather chairs and soft lighting
This one doesn’t just roll in—it arrives like a boss. Tapatío Excelencia is full-on bourbon-tequila luxury in a glass, and for a bourbon lover like me, it hits hard in all the right ways.
The flavors are bold, rich, and smooth: cooked agave, toasted oak, warm caramel, creamy vanilla, cinnamon spice, and a buttery richness that practically speaks in Barry White’s voice. Deep. Sultry. Slow it down—this is a pour you sip.
This isn’t your everyday bottle—and it shouldn’t be. Excelencia is incredibly hard to find. I picked mine up in Europe, because I’ve never seen it in the wild here in the States. And no, it ain’t cheap. But honestly? It shouldn’t be. This is the crown jewel of the Tapatío lineup, a bottle that carries the Camarena legacy with class and precision.
The standard Tapatío lineup is like the Toyotas of the tequila world—dependable, well-crafted, always the right call. But Excelencia? That’s the Lexus. Same foundation, different league. Premium, refined, and built for the long haul.
This is a bottle you hide. You bring it out for your favorite people—or maybe just for yourself on a quiet night. It’s that special. That smooth. That good.
Oh my gosh. So good.
Sip-Worthy Rating: 🥃🥃🥃🥃🥃 (5 Tequila Glasses)
NOM: 1139
Agave Type: Blue Weber
Harvest Region: Jalisco
Cooking Method: Stone Brick Ovens
Extraction Process: Roller Mill, Tahona
Water Source: Deep well water
Still Type: Copper Pot
Fermentation: Wood Open-air with fibers
Distillatiion: 2x
Aging: Used Barrels, Bourbon Barrels
ABV/Proof: 40% abv (80-proof)
Price Range: $300 and up
Final Sip
Tapatío doesn’t chase trends. It doesn’t shout. It doesn’t beg for your attention. It just shows up—consistent, confident, and grounded in tradition. From the earthy, no-nonsense Blanco to the smooth-and-steady Reposado, the effortlessly cool Añejo, the unshakable swagger of 110, and the velvet-poured luxury of Excelencia Extra Añejo—this lineup is a masterclass in agave done right.
Born from the hands of the Camarena family, Tapatío isn’t about gimmicks. It’s about generations of doing it the right way. No additives. No shortcuts. Just tequila with soul.
Tapatío 110 might be the quietest bottle in the room—but when it speaks, everyone listens. Reposado is the steady hand. Añejo walks in with vintage charm and earns its nod. Excelencia? That’s for the chosen few. Top shelf. Hidden shelf. Whispered about in low-lit rooms.
This isn’t tequila trying to be everything—it’s tequila being exactly what it’s supposed to be. Real. Reliable. Remarkable.
If you haven’t given this lineup a shot, it’s time. Because Tapatío isn’t just tequila—it’s legacy, poured one sip at a time.