Don Diego Santa Blanco Tequila
Don Diego Santa Blanco Tequila is an 80 proof (40% ABV), 750mL unaged blanco from Destilería Río de Plata in Guadalajara, Jalisco (NOM 1124) — a small-batch, handmade tequila from 100% blue agave, bottled fresh with no aging. It scored 90 with the Beverage Testing Institute and took gold at the 2010 Tasting Panel competition: clean, herbal, peppery, with a silky texture and a crisp finish. It is available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
- ABV: 40% (80 proof)
- Size: 750mL
- Style: blanco — unaged, bottled fresh
- Distillery: Destilería Río de Plata (Tequilas del Señor, S.A. de C.V.), Guadalajara, Jalisco — NOM 1124
- Agave: 100% blue agave; small-batch distillation
- Awards: Beverage Testing Institute 90; Gold, 2010 Tasting Panel competition
Guadalajara's Unaged Expression
The Blanco is the entry to the Don Diego Santa line and the purest read on what Destilería Río de Plata does — the same 1943 Guadalajara distillery and master distiller Maribel Garcia behind the brand's aged expressions, with nothing between the still and the bottle. Registry sources place the brand at NOM 1124; disregard retailer listings citing "NOM 1471," which registry sources contradict. As with the rest of the line, additive-free is unverified — no claim is made either way.
Tasting Notes
The standout tasting comes from barandrestaurant: "velvety texture, a generous bouquet and a palate saturated with chocolate, black pepper, mocha, citrus and baked fruit; the lingering finish is spicy and satisfying." Total Wine finds "clean herbal pepper" with "excellent balance between bitter and sweetness, silky texture." Freshfindess concurs: a very pleasant nose, clean herbal pepper on the palate, and a clean, crisp, smooth finish. For a blanco with a 90-point BTI score, the pepper-and-citrus profile is notably assertive.
How to Enjoy
This is a margarita and paloma blanco — the herbal pepper cuts through citrus and holds its own against fresh lime and grapefruit. Sip it chilled to catch the chocolate-and-mocha notes the reviewers found. Browse the full Don Diego Santa line and the rest of the tequila shelf to compare unaged against oak-aged Jalisco bottlings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Don Diego Santa Blanco aged? No — it is bottled fresh with no aging, as a blanco should be.
What does Don Diego Santa Blanco taste like? Clean and herbal with pepper, citrus, and mocha notes over a silky texture; a spicy, satisfying finish.
Who distills Don Diego Santa? Destilería Río de Plata in Guadalajara, Jalisco — NOM 1124.
Del Mesa Liquor ships Don Diego Santa Blanco anywhere in California — order online and taste a Guadalajara original.