Recognition

The Insólito Blanco was awarded Double Gold at the 2026 Agavos Awards, one of the most respected competitions in the agave spirits world. For an additive-free blanco at this price point, that’s a significant validation and a great reason to make it our May pick.

The Distillery: Premium de Jalisco

Insólito is produced at Premium de Jalisco, located in the town of Mazamitla, Jalisco. It holds the distinction of being the highest distillery in Mexico, sitting at an elevation of 7,200 feet above sea level. The Herrera Brothers built their distillery high in the Sierra del Tigre mountains of Jalisco, where hot days and cool nights create a production environment unlike anywhere else in the tequila world.

The Name

Insólito translates to “uncommon, rare, extraordinary.”  For a tequila born at the top of a mountain, made by a family that has spent generations perfecting their craft, the name fits.

The People Behind the Bottle

Insólito is owned by double Grammy-nominated country band Midland and their partners, including co-founder and CEO Pete Kelly of Spirits Innovation Partners, and brothers Octavio and Alberto Herrera. 

Pete Kelly serves as CEO of Insólito and spent two and a half years developing the brand before launch. His vision was simple and non-negotiable: produce a tequila that stands for uncompromising character, in the liquid, the personality, and the partners. That standard is what led them to the Herreras and to a distillery 7,200 feet up in the Sierra del Tigre.

Midland members Jess Carson, Cameron Duddy, and Mark Wystrach teamed up with Pete Kelly, General Manager Octavio Herrera, and Master Distiller Alberto Herrera to bring Insólito to life. For a band that built their reputation on traditional country authenticity, it would have been easy to slap their name on any bottle. They didn’t do that. They found real makers, in a real place, making something genuinely worth drinking.

The Philosophy

Insólito is confirmed additive-free. It arrives from a slow fermentation process enhanced by the altitude, weather, and natural spring water of the Sierra del Tigre mountains. The elevation isn’t a marketing detail. It shapes every stage of production.

The Agave Blend

Most distilleries work with agave from a single region. Insólito doesn’t. The blanco is made from a blend of 80% Los Altos highland agave and 20% Tequila Valley lowland agave. The highlands bring brightness, minerality, and floral character. The lowlands add earth and depth. Together they give this blanco a layered identity you won’t find in a single-origin expression.

Production Process

• Fermentation: Slow, cold-temperature fermentation driven by altitude and natural spring water.

• Distillation: Twice distilled in stainless steel stills, preserving the authentic character of the agave blend. 

• Resting: The blanco rests for six weeks in stainless steel tanks before bottling.

Tasting Notes

• Nose: Caramel, agave, vanilla, and citrus, with banana and black pepper emerging as it opens up

• Palate: Cooked agave, light citrus and herbs, cracked pepper, light cinnamon. 

• Finish: Herbal notes of basil, mint, and anise with citrus and butter and a light lingering heat with a touch of cream.

The Bottom Line

Insólito Blanco earns its name. The altitude-driven fermentation, the dual-region agave blend, and the clean stainless distillation all come together to produce something that stands apart. It’s herbaceous, smooth, and genuinely interesting. Whether you’re sipping it neat or building a cocktail around it, this is a blanco that holds up to attention.

Specs

• Distillery: Premium de Jalisco

• Region: Mazamitla, Jalisco (7,200 ft. elevation)

• Agave: 100% Blue Weber (80% Highland / 20% Lowland)

• ABV: 40% (80 proof)

• Rest: 6 weeks, stainless steel tanks

• Additives: None (confirmed additive-free)

• Award: Double Gold, 2026 Agavos Awards

The Three Sip Ranch Water Recipe

• 1.5 ounces Insólito Blanco

• .5 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice

• .5 ounce agave syrup (1:1 ratio of agave nectar and hot water)

Build in a salt-rimmed highball glass over ice. Top with club soda or your favorite sparkling water.