Alma del Jaguar Blanco-Nocturna Tequila 750ml

Alma del Jaguar operates out of the Vivanco family's fifth-generation distillery, NOM 1414, in the Los Altos highlands of Jalisco. Nocturna is part of a rotating series of seasonal high proof blanco releases from the brand, each one meant to showcase a different, more concentrated side of the house style than the standard expressions offer. As with the rest of the Alma del Jaguar lineup, proceeds support the Northern Jaguar Project, which works to protect wild jaguar populations across Sonora, Mexico and the southwestern United States.

Nocturna is made from 100% blue Weber agave grown on the estate, using the same fermentation approach that defines the brand: a blend of roughly 80 percent wild native yeast and 20 percent Champagne yeast. Because it is bottled unfiltered straight from distillation, without dilution down to standard proof, the finished spirit lands around 101 proof, well above a typical blanco, preserving more of the agave's raw intensity and concentrated flavor.

That extra strength shows immediately. Strong cooked agave leads the nose, joined by cinnamon, cinnamon candy, cracked black pepper, and a touch of spice. The palate carries that sweet and spicy balance through, with warming baking spice wrapped around ripe agave, finishing hot and lingering with more cinnamon, pepper, and a final wave of smooth, sweet agave.