Pasote Still Strength Additive Free Blanco Tequila 110 Proof 750ml

Pasote Still Strength Blanco is bottled at 55% ABV — the maximum permitted under tequila's governing NOM regulations — making it one of a select few tequilas to reach that ceiling. Most still-strength tequilas are bottled somewhere between 45% and 52%, deferring to convention or commercial caution before reaching that ceiling. Pasote had a different idea: go all the way to the top. This is the same distillery as Terralta, G4, and ArteNOM 1579 — Felipe Camarena's NOM 1584 in Los Altos de Jalisco, where a four-generation family has been growing agave on the same estate since 1937 and mastering the production processes that make Camarena tequila consistently among the most decorated in the category. At 110 proof, the Pasote Still Strength is not simply the standard Pasote Blanco at higher alcohol — it is a fundamentally different production exercise with a distinct process: a first distillation using a tighter heart cut than standard production, which removes higher concentrations of impurities from the head and tails at elevated proof, before a second distillation produces the finished spirit. No water is added after distillation. No glycerin, no additives of any kind. The bottle itself is one of the most striking in the Pasote range — designed with a Día de los Muertos calavera label illustrated in the style of an Aztec god, with marigold eyes honoring the sacred symbol of the festival, in a broad-shouldered extra flint glass that communicates what's inside before the first pour. Drinkhacker described the Still Strength as distinguished from the standard Pasote Blanco by its "extra punch" — confirming that at 110 proof, the familiar Pasote terroir and production philosophy are intensified rather than transformed, delivering the highland mineral character, tropical fruit, and pepper spice that defines the house in a format built for the most serious agave enthusiast. Origins & Craftsmanship Pasote Tequila is produced at NOM 1584 — the El Pandillo Distillery in Jesús María, Los Altos de Jalisco — under the fourth-generation stewardship of Master Distiller Felipe Camarena, whose family has farmed agave on the Camarena Estate since 1937. The same distillery also produces G4, Terralta, and ArteNOM 1579, each differentiated primarily by its specific water source and production philosophy — Pasote using rainwater that falls on the estate and is collected before being used for production, a water source Camarena has stated provides a specific freshness and mineral clarity to the finished spirit. Estate-grown 100% Blue Weber Highlands agave is harvested at full maturity before being slow-baked in traditional brick ovens for approximately 48 hours — the stone oven method that develops the full, rounded sweetness of cooked agave without the bitterness that faster autoclave processing introduces. The cooked agave is crushed before being fermented in open-air stainless steel tanks with Pasote's proprietary blend of cultivated local yeasts — an open fermentation environment that allows the estate's natural microbial character to contribute to the fermentation profile. Distillation takes place in stainless steel pot stills using volcanic rock-filtered water from the deep in-house well — the volcanic filtration contributing the mineral character and wet stone quality that defines Pasote's aromatic signature across all expressions. The Still Strength Blanco's production diverges from standard Pasote Blanco at the distillation stage: the first distillation employs a tighter heart cut — less liquid from each distillation run — which at the resulting higher proof removes greater concentrations of head and tail impurities than a standard cut would achieve. This tighter cut is the technical foundation of the "still strength" designation: the spirit reaches a higher natural proof from the distillation itself rather than from simple evaporation of water. The second distillation is then completed without any addition of water to reduce the proof. No glycerin, no additives of any kind. The finished spirit at 55% ABV / 110 proof is bottled directly from the still — hence the designation — in the Día de los Muertos collector bottle with its Aztec-inspired calavera label and marigold eyes. Critics Reviews There are no widely published numeric scores from Wine Spectator, Wine Advocate, or Whisky Advocate available for this specific expression. Drinkhacker reviewed the Still Strength as "a rather familiar tequila that doesn't overly defy expectations — though the extra punch does help distinguish it from (and elevate it above) Pasote's standard blanco" — confirming that the production philosophy is consistent with the house style while the proof elevation meaningfully intensifies the character. Agave Matchmaker community tasters described the Still Strength as "signature Pasote — strong pepper notes over a low sweet base with touches of vegetal and tobacco" — confirming the house style's consistency at maximum proof — alongside notes of "cooked agave, minerality, wet stone, tropical fruit, plantain, and lemongrass." Tasting Profile Nose Bright, vibrant, and mineral-forward — the volcanic rock-filtered water's influence detectable from the first approach as a cool, wet stone quality that grounds the whole aromatic picture. Juicy tropical fruits lead with genuine freshness — pineapple, plantain, and a suggestion of fresh mango — alongside a subtle mineral undertone that is the most distinctive characteristic of the Camarena estate's water source. Cooked agave sweetness from the brick oven processing provides a warm, honeyed foundation beneath the fresher top notes. A touch of citrus — lemon peel and orange — adds aromatic lift. The 110 proof is detectable as a slight warmth on the nose rather than harsh ethanol — the tight heart cut's impurity removal at elevated proof producing a concentration that is vivid and expressive rather than aggressive. Palate Complex, layered, and immediately distinctive at 110 proof — the first sip delivering a rush of tropical sweetness followed quickly by the savory, mineral character that defines Pasote's house style at any proof. Sweet plantains and burnt sugar arrive first — rich, slightly caramelized, and warming — before the savory dimension asserts itself with genuine force: green pepper and a pronounced white pepper spice building through the mid-palate with the signature Pasote pepper character that community tasters consistently identify as the brand's most recognizable flavor note. The highland agave's naturally earthy, mineral quality is most apparent here — a slightly dusty, dark chocolate-adjacent character that multiple tasters identified as the "rustic highland" dimension that the extra proof amplifies. Lemongrass, tobacco, and an anise note add herbal complexity. The tight heart cut's quality is evident in the relative smoothness at 110 proof — considerable warmth present but focused rather than hot, dissipating into the finish rather than building harshly. Finish Long, building, and warmly persistent. Roasted agave and a subtle lingering heat lead the close alongside the white pepper spice that is the Still Strength's most memorable characteristic — building rather than diminishing as the finish develops. Minerals and citrus peel persist alongside a sweet, slightly cinnamon-adjacent spice that softens the heat gradually. The mouthfeel is thin but silky throughout — a quality multiple tasters noted as the finished spirit's most elegant attribute. The finish is considerably longer than the standard Pasote Blanco — the 110 proof concentration carrying the flavors well past the swallow before resolving cleanly. Quick Overview Category Details ABV / Proof 55% ABV / 110 Proof — Legal Maximum NOM 1584 — El Pandillo Distillery Origin / Region Jesús María, Los Altos (Highlands) de Jalisco, Mexico Producer Pasote Tequila — Felipe Camarena, 4th-generation Master Distiller Shared Distillery NOM 1584 also produces G4, Terralta, and ArteNOM 1579 Agave 100% Blue Weber — Camarena Estate, Highlands Jalisco Cooking Traditional brick ovens — approximately 48 hours Fermentation Open-air stainless steel tanks — proprietary blend of cultivated local yeasts Water Source Rainwater collected on the Camarena Estate Distillation Stainless steel pot stills — volcanic rock-filtered water from in-house well Production Distinction Tighter heart cut on first distillation — removes higher concentrations of impurities at elevated proof Water Added Post-Distillation None — bottled directly from still Additives None — additive-free Label Design Día de los Muertos calavera — Aztec god style · Marigold eyes · Extra flint bottle Style / Identity Maximum-proof Highland still-strength blanco — mineral, pepper-forward, tropical fruit, volcanic terroir Aromas & Flavors Tropical fruit, pineapple, plantain, wet stone, volcanic mineral, cooked agave, burnt sugar, green pepper, white pepper, lemongrass, tobacco, anise, cinnamon Bottle Size 750ml Serving & Occasion Best enjoyed neat in a copita or wide-bottomed tulip glass with patience — at 110 proof the spirit rewards air exposure and opens considerably over the first 10 minutes in the glass. A few drops of water at this proof is not merely recommended but genuinely transformative — the addition reveals layers of tropical fruit and mineral character that the ethanol concentration suppresses at full strength, and the pepper spice softens into something more nuanced and aromatic. Over ice the heat dissipates quickly and the highland mineral and plantain character deepens as the temperature drops. Outstanding in a Tommy's Margarita format where the full 110-proof agave character carries through citrus and sweetener without losing its voice — Pasote themselves recommend this as one of their signature serves. An exceptional bottle for the serious agave enthusiast, the still-strength collector, and the high-proof spirits drinker who wants to experience Felipe Camarena's Highlands terroir at its fullest, most undiluted expression. Cocktail Suggestions Tommy's Margarita (Pasote's own recommendation) 2 oz Pasote Still Strength Blanco · 1 oz fresh lime juice · ½ oz agave syrup. Shaken over ice, served in a rocks glass over a large cube with an optional salted or Tajín rim. The 110-proof agave character carries completely through the citrus and sweetener — the green pepper and mineral notes from the full-strength spirit adding a dimension that standard 80-proof blancos cannot maintain through the Margarita's dilution. Pasote recommends this as their signature Still Strength serve, and it earns that recommendation. Highland Paloma 2 oz Pasote Still Strength Blanco · grapefruit soda · squeeze of fresh lime · pinch of salt. Built over ice in a highball. The volcanic mineral character and white pepper spice of the 110-proof Highland blanco play against grapefruit's bitterness in a Paloma of unusual depth and heat — the still strength ensuring the agave character holds its voice even in a long drink. Still Strength Neat with Water 2 oz Pasote Still Strength Blanco · 3–5 drops of still water. The recommended starting point for anyone new to this expression — the addition of water reveals the tropical fruit and mineral layers beneath the 110-proof concentration, and the resulting opened profile is one of the most genuinely complex and interesting blanco tequila experiences available at any price. Spiced Still Strength Sour 1.5 oz Pasote Still Strength Blanco · ¾ oz fresh lime juice · ½ oz agave syrup · jalapeño slice muddled. Shaken hard over ice, served up. The jalapeño amplifies the green pepper and white pepper spice already present in the spirit into something vivid and warming — the citrus and agave syrup providing balance — and the result is a cocktail of genuine fire and complexity that uses the Still Strength's most distinctive characteristic as its primary ingredient.