Aqara Agave de Los Andes Plateado
Aqara Agave de Los Andes Plateado is a 40% ABV unaged Peruvian agave spirit from Caraz, high in the Andes of the Ancash region — the purest expression of what wild Andean agave tastes like. The same double-distilled spirit as the Reposado, but rested at least three months with no wood contact, so nothing stands between you and the agave: wild A. americana expansa gentry and A. cordillerensis, harvested at around ten years old at 7,000-plus feet, steam-cooked for seven hours, fermented three days, and run twice through copper pot stills. One retailer describes it as landing "somewhere between a tequila and a pisco" — floral, tropical, and unmistakably Andean. This 750mL bottle carries a Gold from the 2019 New York World Wine & Spirits Competition and Gold from the 2023 WSWA Competition. Order it online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
- ABV: 40% — unaged Peruvian agave distillate (not tequila/mezcal)
- Size: 750mL
- Aging: Rested at least 3 months — no wood contact
- Agave: Wild A. americana expansa gentry + A. cordillerensis, harvested ~10 years at 24° brix
- Production: Hand-cut, steam-cooked 7 hours, 3-day fermentation, double-distilled in copper pot stills
- Origin: Caraz, Ancash, Peru — distillery at 2,256 m
- Awards: Gold, 2019 NYW≻ Silver, 2020 SFWSC; Gold, 2023 WSWA Competition
Pure Andean Agave, Nothing Else
The Plateado is where founder Marco Suarez Lara's project starts: agave as a sacred plant, grown wild in the Cordillera Blanca foothills and distilled at altitude by a Caraz-based operation that replants three agaves for every one it harvests. With no oak to hide behind, the terroir is the whole story — flowers, tropical fruit, and peach pit on the nose, a friendly, round palate of nectarine and orange blossom, and a finish with dried hay, soil, and minerality that could only come from 7,000 feet. Try it next to our tequila collection's blancos to taste how altitude changes agave, or browse the Aqara range.
Tasting Notes
Fresh and seductive on the nose — flowers, tropical fruits, peach pits, herbaceous and ripe fruit. The palate is round and silky, with soft floral notes, fresh nectarine, and orange blossom. Long finish with dried hay, soil, and minerality.
How to Enjoy
Neat or on the rocks in a copita — this is a terroir spirit that rewards slow sipping at room temperature. For cocktails, treat it like a premium blanco: a crisp margarita or a Paloma lets the floral-tropical character shine through.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does "Plateado" mean?
"Silvery" — it's the unaged expression, rested at least three months with no wood contact, so it stays crystal clear and shows only the agave.
Is Aqara Plateado like a blanco tequila?
It occupies a similar role — unaged agave spirit — but it's made in Peru from native Andean agaves, not in Mexico from Blue Weber agave, so it isn't tequila. Expect a more floral, tropical, mineral profile than a typical blanco.
What awards has the Plateado won?
Gold at the 2019 New York World Wine & Spirits Competition, Silver at the 2020 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, and Gold at the 2023 WSWA Competition.
Curious about agave beyond Mexico? Order Aqara Agave de Los Andes Plateado online from Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA — 750mL of unaged Andean craft.