Review: Mijenta Tequila Blanco Maestra Selection No. 1
We’ve been big fans of Mijenta Tequila since its 2021 launch, and now we’re excited to see the brand move into its first limited edition offering, part of a new series called the Maestra Selection.
Per the company, “The concept behind the series is to give Maestra Tequilera Ana Maria Romero a platform to explore the immense world of flavors and aromas of tequila in small, innovative annual releases. Leveraging her meticulous approach to production that is equal parts art and science, Romero will unleash her creativity as she experiments with what is possible using only agave, water and yeast.”
Maestra Selection No. 1 is a higher-proof version of Mijenta’s blanco, made from 8 year old agaves grown on a single estate in Presa de Otomites in Jesus Maria in the Jalisco Highlands. Again, some detail: “What makes this inaugural release in the Maestra Selection series truly unique is that it is the first tequila to be made solely from agaves de semilla, or agaves grown from seed. Nearly all agaves used for tequila production today are clones – or hijuelos – which over generations become weaker due to lack of genetic diversity. Agaves de semilla, the first of a new generation of plants, possess deep, complex and nuanced flavors that are unlike any other agaves.”
So that’s an interesting spin that I’ve never heard done before — and it’s all the more enticing given the bottling at 50% abv.
From the first pour, it’s clear that this is high-grade stuff that immediately commands attention. The nose is bright and fruity with a sharp lemon overtone but also rather salty, ultimately evoking notes of mineral-laden slate. A layer of green pepper, jalapeno adjacent but tamed, is omnipresent throughout the nosing.
The palate takes an already amazing start and runs with it: A sunny mix of lemon and grapefruit kicks things off, chased by a bright punch of that jalapeno — not at all racy with heat but powerful with green pepper notes and a spray of fresh-cut herbs. The tequila evolves further from there, with a surprising touch of sweetness that helps to evoke grapefruit soda, then fresh peaches. The finish sees ample cinnamon and a layer of caramel that one rarely finds in a blanco, with a reprise of lemon peel washing everything back to its cleansing start. It’s quite a different expression than Mijenta’s standard blanco, but equally worthwhile — perhaps more so.
100 proof.
A / $100 / mijenta-tequila.com
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