Spirits Bottle Photography Series – Part 15: Arette Classic Blanco

Named after a horse who, with its rider, won a gold medal in equestrian jumping at the 1984 Olympics, Arette is a well-known tequila brand, initially largely because of its budget “Classic” line which, though much punchier in terms of the alcohol hit, especially in the regular “Classic” line blanco, makes a good mixer. Its “Artesanal” line, as the name says quite literally, is more refined and “artisanal,” making it, at least to me, a much more enjoyable set of sipping (neat) tequilas.

Produced by El Llano distillery (NOM 1109) in Jalisco, Arette uses Valley Blue Weber agaves and mineral-rich spring water from the Volcán de Tequila (Tequila Volcano). The standard “Clásica”/Classic line of Arette make for very good mixing tequilas and decent budget friendly sipping tequilas. The Classic line bottles also come in 1 liter sizes.

Produced using a roller-mill and a high pressure autoclave to cook the agave, the Classic Arette blanco is open-air fermented in stainless steel tanks and is double distilled in a stainless steel pot still with a copper coil. It is aerated before bottling.

The Classic blanco is very alcohol forward on both the nose and the palate. Once you get past the alcohol, there are aromas and flavors of cooked agave and baking spices (cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg), a lot of black pepper, vegetal/grassy notes, some citrus, and salinity. It’s strong flavors make it an ideal robust mixer because the tequila will continue to shine through with the other ingredients in a cocktail.