REVIEW – Mijenta Blanco Tequila – Agave Spirits+ Journey

NOM 1412 – Remarkably floral with sweet cinnamon/baking spices/cooked agave, vanilla, & fruity aromas with similar flavors & a peppery bite (a companion taster also got hints of olive).

The strong ethanol aromas mellowed a bit after opening, even just a day after opening & breathing, dissipating some of the punchy alcohol elements. The delightful aromas hang around for quite a while in the glass and mouth. The sweet cinnamon/baking spices aromas hang out in the glass for quite a while after being emptied.

Intriguing neat, Mijenta blanco also makes for a nice mixer in a Margarita & a Ranch Water.

(One of my favorite blancos, hands down.)

Mijenta’s master distiller (maestra tequilera) is a longtime veteran of the tequila scene, Ana María Romero. Known for her remarkable palate for agave spirits, she’s authored a Spanish language book discussing the hundreds of aromas and flavors that can be picked up in tequilas. She’s also well known for her mastering of distillation and barrel experimentation and aging. Mijenta is the pinnacle of her career thus far – the standard blanco, blended reposado, blended añejo, the new limited edition Maestra Selection No. 1 blanco, and even the cristalino reposado are each very unique when compared to others in their respective categories.

Using mature, brix-rich 100% Blue Weber agave grown in the iron, lime, and other mineral-rich red clay soil of the Jalisco highlands of Arandas that is slow cooked in a low-pressure autoclave, Mijenta tequilas are fermented using proprietary yeast and then double distilled before being brought to bottling proof with mineral-rich deep well water. The only Mijenta tequila that undergoes filtration is the cristalino, which is filtered through coconut husk charcoal.

Mijenta’s brand logo is a rabbit, taken from the “400 Rabbits” (Centzon Tōtōchtin) Aztec myth about the children of the goddess of agave, Mayahuel, with each representing a different type or stage of intoxication. When a person drank too much, they were believed to become temporarily possessed by one of Mayahuel’s children.

The specific Lot (Lote) of the Lone Star Añejo under review here is L609DVA0921.

COLOR: crystal clear & sparkling (like pure water)

AROMA PROFILE: Remarkably floral; sweet Cinnamon & Baking Spices/cooked Agave; Fruit aromas incl. some Citrus & summer Melons; White Pepper; hints of Vanilla & Olive

-Upon opening the bottle, the floral notes and alcohol are very strong, but these dissipate & mellow as it aerates in the glass. The floral notes remain even months after the bottle’s been opened but mellows and mixes with the blanco’s natural cooked agave & baking spices, vanilla, & fruit sweetness.

-Benefits from aerating in the glass for 1 hour+, especially right after the bottle’s been opened

PALATE: Mirrors the aroma profile – Sweet cooked Agave & Baking Spices (especially Cinnamon); Fruit notes including summer Melons & Citrus; White Pepper; hints of Vanilla & Olive

MOUTHFEEL: Silky smooth

FINISH: Medium (Oak tannins & caramel/vanilla sweetness last a bit longer)

PRICE POINT (IN MY AREA): $40-53

VALUE: Top-notch, unique blanco made the right way for an excellent price. It is both an excellent sipping tequila & a great mixer.

ALWAYS ON SHELF/BUY AGAIN? Yes. I have multiple reserve bottles.