Puntagave "Rustico" Tequila Blanco

Puntagave "Rustico" Tequila Blanco is made from 100% highland-grown Tequilana Weber agave sourced from Los Altos de Jalisco, where rich red volcanic soil and high elevation stress the plants into producing piñas with exceptionally high sugar content. This blanco is the work of Guillermo Barroso Arnaud, who holds the distinction of being the second certified Maestro Tequilero in the world, and serves as the entry point into Puntagave's broader lineup of Mexican agave spirits. Baked in an autoclave oven and double distilled in copper stills at Compania Tequilera Hacienda La Capilla, the Rustico shows the characteristic sweetness and fruit-forward profile that define highland tequila. Guillermo Barroso Arnaud founded Puntagave in 2015 alongside Juan Pablo Garciabueno with the goal of showcasing the full spectrum of Mexico's agave traditions, producing not only tequila but also mezcal, raicilla, sotol, and bacanora under the same umbrella. The highland agave used for the Rustico grows in the red volcanic soils above 6,000 feet, where cooler nights and intense sun concentrate the sugars in the piña before harvest. After autoclave cooking to convert those sugars, the juice is double distilled in traditional copper pot stills, a method that preserves the herbal and fruity aromatics while delivering a clean, smooth spirit. The Rustico is bottled at 80 proof with no barrel aging, allowing the agave's natural character to show through unfiltered by wood. The nose opens with herbal agave and tropical fruit backed by a peppery bite, while the palate delivers sweet cooked agave, citrus, and vanilla up front before shifting into green vegetable notes of zucchini and jalapeño pepper. The finish is warm and smooth, trailing banana, pineapple, and citrus in a way that highlights the fruit-forward personality of highland Jalisco agave. This is a blanco best enjoyed neat or on a single large ice cube to appreciate the layers, though it also holds its structure in a margarita or paloma where the agave backbone can shine through citrus and salt. Pair it with ceviche, grilled fish tacos, or fresh goat cheese to complement the tropical and herbaceous notes. Puntagave "Rustico" Tequila Blanco is available at Off Premise in Lincoln Park for pickup at 1128 W Armitage Ave, local Chicago delivery, or nationwide shipping.