The Bad Stuff Plata Tequila
The Bad Stuff Plata Tequila is an 80 proof (40% ABV), 750mL unaged blanco from Arandas, in the Los Altos (Highlands) of Jalisco. Made at Tequilera de Arandas (NOM 1460) from minimum-7-year estate-grown agave — slow-baked in traditional steam ovens, open-vat fermented with artesian well water, and double distilled in stainless alembics finished in copper pot stills — it is the brand's signature expression: clean, peppery, and unapologetically agave-driven. It is available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
- ABV: 40% (80 proof)
- Size: 750mL
- Agave: 100% Weber blue agave, estate-grown, minimum 7 years at harvest
- Distillery: Tequilera de Arandas, Arandas, Jalisco — NOM 1460
- Production: steam-oven baked, open-vat fermentation, double distilled (stainless + copper)
- Style: plata — unaged
The Name Is a Joke; the Tequila Isn't
The Bad Stuff was founded by Felipe Soto Mares — a Maestro Catador and Master Sommelier — as a premium, US-facing tequila brand with a wink in the name and none in the bottle. The Los Altos de Jalisco agaves behind the Plata grow at altitude, which builds the fruit and sweetness the region is known for, and the estate grows them a minimum of seven years to peak ripeness. The brand also makes La Mala expressions and an Extra Añejo that picked up a 2020 SIP Awards Gold Medal — but the Plata is the everyday flagship.
Tasting Notes
The official notes describe "a peppery glow and rich agave presence." Retailers find citrus and fresh agave up front, a delicate sweetness with hints of vanilla and caramel, and a crisp, clean finish with lingering warmth. It is Highland agave at its most direct — floral, citrusy, and a touch spicy.
How to Enjoy
Drink it neat or over ice to catch the pepper and agave interplay, or put it to work in a proper tequila lineup — a Plata this clean is a margarita ringer. It sits well alongside other Highland bottlings; browse the full The Bad Stuff range to compare the Plata against the brand's aged expressions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The Bad Stuff Plata a blanco or a reposado? It is a plata (blanco) — unaged, bottled after distillation. CaskCartel's "4 months in bourbon barrels" claim conflicts with every other source and the unaged identity; disregard it.
Where is The Bad Stuff made? At Tequilera de Arandas (NOM 1460) in Arandas, Jalisco — the Los Altos Highlands region.
What does the name mean? It is a tongue-in-cheek brand name from founder Felipe Soto Mares; the tequila itself is a serious, agave-forward Highland blanco.
Get The Bad Stuff Plata at Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA — order online for pickup or delivery today.