Manuscrito Tequila Blanco

Manuscrito Tequila Blanco is a single-estate expression distilled by Oscar Vazquez Camarena at El Sabino Distillery in Jesus Maria, bottled at 42.5% ABV to amplify the aromatics and structure that define highland tequila. The agave is six to eight years old, grown in the red volcanic soils of Los Altos de Jalisco, where elevation and mineral richness produce fruit with pronounced sweetness and floral character. What sets this blanco apart is the deliberate oxygenation during distillation, a technique Camarena uses to balance the weight of cooked agave with a cooling vegetal finish and integrate the peppery, citrus, and herbal layers that make Los Altos terroir legible in the glass. Manuscrito Tequila sources Blue Weber agave exclusively from estate parcels in Los Altos, the highland zone northeast of Guadalajara. Camarena harvests the piñas at full maturity, roasts them in traditional brick hornos, and ferments the juice before double-distillation in copper pot stills. The oxygenation process softens the spirit and allows the floral, citrus, and mineral notes to emerge without losing the roasted agave backbone. The result is a blanco that tastes like a sense of place, not a neutral cocktail base, with complexity you rarely encounter in an unaged spirit from this region. On the nose, expect sweet cooked agave, wet grass, lemon zest, white pepper, and a faint floral lift. The palate opens with roasted agave sweetness, then pivots to citrus peel, bell pepper, and a mineral earthiness balanced by white pepper and mint. The finish is long and clean, with peppery heat tempered by mint, lime, and a thread of floral sweetness. Sip it neat to appreciate the terroir, or pair it with ceviche, aguachile, or raw oysters where the vegetal brightness and citrus notes complement seafood and acid. It also anchors a Paloma or margarita with more structure than most blancos at this proof. In stock at Off Premise in Lincoln Park.