Kapena Silver Tequila
Kapena Silver Tequila is a highland blanco built for competition — an 80 proof (40% ABV) 750mL 100% Blue Weber agave tequila, unaged, made from agave grown 8–10 years in the Highlands of Jalisco and double-distilled in pot stills with copper coils at Tequila Group Mexico (NOM 1468) in Arandas, Los Altos. No diffuser, no shortcuts: brick-oven cooking, roller-mill extraction, stainless-steel fermentation. Founded in 2016 by Mike Goto — a West Coast entrepreneur with family roots on Hawaii's Big Island ("Kapena" is an adopted Hawaiian word for captain) — the brand fuses Mexican tequila craft with Hawaiian island flavors, and every bottle is hand-forged by glass artisans, each unique with small variations and air bubbles. Gold Medal, Exceptional at the 2023 Beverage Tasting Institute; brand and press cite a 93-point BTI score. Available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
- Proof / ABV: 80 proof (40% ABV) — 750mL, unaged
- Distillery: NOM 1468, Tequila Group Mexico, Arandas, Los Altos, Jalisco
- Agave: 100% Blue Weber, highland-grown 8–10 years; no diffuser
- Awards: Gold Medal, Exceptional — 2023 Beverage Tasting Institute (Blanco, 40%); 93-point BTI score cited by brand/press
- Bottle: hand-forged artisan glass — each unique
Hawai'i Meets Jalisco
The Kapena story starts as a college trick: founder Mike Goto and friends dropping li hing mui into cheap tequila to improve it — which grew into the world's first premium li hing–infused tequila and, in December 2025, a StartEngine equity campaign praised by Kevin O'Leary. The Silver is the foundation of the line: a clean, ultra-smooth highland blanco. Browse more tequila and blanco tequila, or see the Kapena range — including the Hawaiian Chili Infused reposado — at Del Mesa.
Tasting Notes
Brand copy (via Rare Tequilas): "Pure agave flavor with slight citrus notes"; aromas of "hints of agave and herbs"; the brand's press calls it a "clean, ultra-smooth tequila." Retailer consensus: clean, smooth, bright agave-forward blanco, citrus-forward, an easy margarita/paloma base — reviewers call it competition-grade blanco.
How to Enjoy
Neat to taste the highland agave, or in a margarita/paloma where the citrus-forward profile does the heavy lifting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Kapena Silver made?
At NOM 1468 (Tequila Group Mexico) in Arandas, in the Los Altos highlands of Jalisco, Mexico.
Is it additive-free?
The brand states no diffuser and no shortcuts in production; it does not publish an additive-free certification — copy makes no certification claim.
What awards has it won?
Gold Medal, Exceptional at the 2023 Beverage Tasting Institute in the Blanco Tequila category; brand and press also cite a 93-point BTI score.
Competition-grade highland blanco — pick up Kapena Silver Tequila at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.