Santaleza Blanco Tequila
Santaleza Blanco Tequila is highland tequila made the slow way — an 80-proof (40% ABV) blanco in a 750mL bottle, crafted from 100% Blue Weber agave grown in Los Altos de Jalisco and distilled at Destiladora Bonanza (NOM 1604). The piñas cook for 72 hours in masonry ovens, then get crushed by a 135-year-old volcanic-stone tahona wheel — pulled by a mechanical donkey named Pepe — before open-air fermentation in Roble wood vats and double distillation in copper alembic stills. No diffusers, no additives, no shortcuts. Available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
- Proof / ABV: 80 proof (40% ABV) — 750mL
- Agave: 100% Blue Weber agave, Los Altos de Jalisco (highlands)
- Process: 72-hr masonry-oven cook, tahona crush, open-air wood-vat fermentation, copper double distillation
- Distillery: Destiladora Bonanza, NOM 1604 — additive-free
- Awards: Double Gold Medal, 2023 TAG Awards (Blanco)
A Tahona, a Donkey Named Pepe, and Patience
Santaleza is a collaboration between Chopin Imports and the family behind Destiladora Bonanza, and the production reads like a love letter to traditional tequila: three days in stone ovens, a tahona wheel older than the distillery's modern era, wild fermentation in wooden vats with mountain spring water, and a rest before bottling that lets the spirit settle. The Double Gold at the 2023 TAG Awards suggests the judges noticed. This is blanco for people who read NOM numbers. Explore more additive-free blanco tequila or browse everything from Santaleza at Del Mesa.
Tasting Notes
Jasmine, lime, dried fruits, orange blossom, and fresh cooked agave on the nose. The palate brings honeyed sweetness, tangerine, and pink and white pepper over soft minerality, finishing clean with ripe agave.
How to Enjoy
Neat in a copita to catch the florals — or in a Ranch Water where the minerality does the heavy lifting.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is tahona tequila?
Tequila made by crushing cooked agave with a giant volcanic-stone wheel (tahona) instead of a mechanical mill — slower, lower-yield, and prized for a richer, earthier agave character.
Is Santaleza additive-free?
Yes — no diffusers, no additives, no fermentation accelerators, per the distillery and multiple trade sources.
Where is it made?
Destiladora Bonanza (NOM 1604) in Los Altos de Jalisco, the highlands region known for floral, fruit-forward agave.
Traditional-method highland blanco with the medals to prove it — order Santaleza Blanco Tequila from Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.