Alma del Jaguar Nocturna Tequila Review: A High-Proof Blanco Experience
Despite its 101 proof–a feistier number in tequila than in bourbon–it drinks nicely, and is quite supple, allowing more extended sipping. Have some dried spicy mango around to enjoy with this. Mexican desserts would be a plus.
BOTTLE DETAILS
- DISTILLER: Feliciano Vivanco y Asociados, S.A. de C.V. (NOM 1414)
- MASH BILL: 100 percent Blue Weber Agave
- AGE: None
- YEAR: 2024
- PROOF: 101 (55% ABV)
- MSRP: $64.99
- BUY ONLINE: Alma del Jaguar Bottle Shop
STEVE'S NOTES
SHARE WITH: All tequila friends and high-proof American whiskey fans who want to learn tequila the best way: at proofs well above 80.
WORTH THE PRICE: All day long, many months into the future and for years to come.
BOTTLE, BAR OR BUST: Bottle. If you can find it at MSRP, get more, but don't hoard!
OVERALL: This is Alma del Jaguar's second seasonal high-proof blanco, and it's a banger! The nose on this is just glorious. Sweet, caramelized notes of long-cooked agave are infused with roasted green vegetables, particularly bell pepper, and charred fresh herbs which become more focused with every sniff. There's peppermint, fresh oregano and petrichor by the bucket load, and even a mystifying tang of roasted tomato that carries forward to the palate.
Baked bread notes, often credited to malted barley in whiskey, are born of fermentation on agave fibers. Fermented by 100 percent wild (airborne) yeast surely adds to that complexity. Its 101 proof/55% ABV ensures white pepper notes roll in waves to the back palate while leaving expressed lemon peel at the front. The finish is warm, dry, tingly and high in minerality. This is a dynamite tequila in every conceivable way. Having just opened this bottle, I can't wait to enjoy it as it develops further as air moves in.
Despite its 101 proof–a feistier number for tequila than bourbon–it drinks nicely, and is quite supple, allowing more extended sipping. Have some dried spicy mango around to enjoy with this. Mexican desserts would be a plus.
BRAND NOTES
Morningside Brands, Inc., producer and importer of Alma del Jaguar Tequila, one of the fastest-growing single-estate tequila brands in the U.S., announces the fall release of Nocturna, the latest in their seasonal high-proof tequila blanco series. Bottled at 101 proof, Nocturna is made with 100% wild yeast, water, and agave.
The Spring 2024 release showcased a mineral-forward profile with green pepper notes, reflecting Jalisco's arid season. By contrast, the wetter growing conditions for Fall 2024 expression offer a spicier, richer flavor with baking spices and jalapeño and a cinnamon sweetness reminiscent of Big Red gum, according to founder McCauley Williams. Each Nocturna offering prominently displays its production season, highlighting how fermentation and agave growth conditions (at 6,800 feet above sea level in the iron rich volcanic soil) dramatically shape its profile.
Disclaimer: Bourbon & Banter received a sample of this product from the brand for review. We appreciate their willingness to allow us to review their products with no strings attached. Thank you.