If there’s one constant of the spirits industry that will always be true, it’s that there’s always room in the market for more high-value brands. Much of the push in the agave spirits world in the last few years has been behind premiumization, and many of the celebrity backed brands in particular have tried to position themselves as “super premium” tequilas without offering much rationale for why they should be treated that way. Given that, it’s always refreshing to see another brand enter the market where “value for the consumer” has clearly been made into a focus.
So it is with the likes of Tequila Zarpado, which launched its Blanco expression in 2021 for less than $25, to strong reviews. They’re now back with a reposado expression, with a nod to their ownership within Latitude Beverage, which also owns Wheel Horse Whiskey. Fittingly, this reposado is aged for 3-4 months in bourbon barrels that previously aged Wheel Horse brands. This is a product of Cavas de Don Max, a relatively small family distillery that is NOM 1554—the best known brand originating from this same distillery seems to be Cantera Negra.
Few details are provided on the production of Zarpado tequilas, but a representative of the brand reports that their agave is cooked via low pressure autoclave, followed by fermentation in steel vats and double pot still distillation. Regardless, at an MSRP of roughly $27, we’re just glad to see that diffusors weren’t involved. Its strength is a mere 40% ABV (80 proof), as one would probably expect.