Rancho Tepúa Bacanora Blanco

Verdict

Rancho Tepua is the Sonoran bacanora that established the category on the US market as something other than tequila's northern cousin. The blanco at 48% is the brand's working bottle and the shelf benchmark. We'd put it among the top three bacanoras available – with Cielo Rojo and Aguamiel, and reach for this one first.

Tasting notes

Nose: Dry grass, then green chile, faint leather, a cool mineral note

Palate: Structured, dry, genuinely Sonoran. 48% is the working proof for serious bacanora, and Rancho Tepua's aging-in-glass adds a shade of integration without softening the regional character. This is what bacanora tastes like when a producer commits

Finish: Herbal, dry – long

The bottom line

Start here. The bacanora benchmark

Where to buy online

We found this bottle at 3 US retailers. Prices and stock vary – click through to check.

• Total Wine
• BevMo
• Old Town Tequila – $60