Tapatio Tequila Excelencia

If you are a Tequila-lover you will say “holy crap holy crap holy crap” and run around in excitement at having found “the one.”

La Altena Distillery has been operated by the Camarena family since … well, forever. Their first distillery was destroyed during the Mexican Revolution, but they rebuilt in 1937 near the town of Arandas in the heart of Tequila country. “La Altena” does not translate directly, but it’s meaning is equivalent to “little highland lass.” Don’t you just love that? Some things are just the same across all cultures.

They still do Tequila magic old school with masonry ovens and an ancient Tahona mill stone. Today, La Altena distillery is operated by grandson and master distiller Carlos Camarena and they only make the good stuff, including premium brands El Tesoro, Tapatio, and Ocho. Muchas gracias mis amigos!

Tapatio Tequila Excelencia… let’s just cut to the chase and say that this is one of the best Tequilas… nope, strike that. Tapatio Tequila Excelencia is one of the best distilled spirits you will ever have. If you are a Whiskey-lover, you will take a sip and think fond thoughts about the complexity and character of the best single-malt Whiskeys matched with the spiciness of the finest Rye and an exotic fruitiness. If you are a Tequila-lover you will say “holy crap holy crap holy crap” and run around in excitement at having found “the one.”

Tapatio Tequila Excelencia is an “extra anejo”, which means that it has been aged “at least” three years in oak—but we suspect that it is even older. If this were a Cognac—which it almost is—it might be called a V.S. (very special) since it meets those aging requirements, but we’ll call it “muy especial” for obvious reasons. The first time that Uncle Flaviar tasted this amazing little sipper, he started speaking fluent Spanish without a lesson in his life… but with a Scottish brogue.