Tequila El Mexicano: A Three-Generation Legacy Arrives in the U.S
Fifty Years of Passion & Expertise: The Bañuelos Family Legacy
Tequila El Mexicano isn’t just another premium tequila — it’s the culmination of three generations of passion, precision, and purpose. Handcrafted at the breathtaking Hacienda El Mexicano in Arandas, Jalisco, and made with only fully matured 100 percent Blue Weber agave, it’s a storied spirit that honors the past while toasting to the future.
Now available in the U.S., Tequila El Mexicano extends a family legacy that began in 1973.
Behind it all is the Bañuelos family, who have been producing tequila for more than 50 years, since great-grandfather Don Félix Bañuelos and his son León co-founded the iconic Tequila Cazadores, pioneering 100 percent agave tequila worldwide. The family eventually moved on from Cazadores, but the passion for tequila-making never left them. Their dedication to crafting exceptional tequila persisted and evolved, ultimately culminating in El Mexicano.
A Bold New Bañuelos Family Chapter
Tequila El Mexicano is the Bañuelos family’s proud return to form. Founded by brothers León Jr. and Willy Bañuelos, in close collaboration with their father León Sr., El Mexicano is 100 percent Mexican-owned and -operated. It’s a deeply personal project — built on family tradition, shared vision, and a spirit of collaboration.
The result is a premium tequila that embodies their name, their spirit, and their story. Using time-honored production methods and using only agave, yeast, and water, their mantra is: “The only thing we add is time. Everything else — tradition, technique, and soul are fully developed in the spirit.”
The Hacienda at the Heart of It All
Home base is Hacienda El Mexicano in Arandas, Jalisco — a breathtaking estate that blends Old-World charm with thoughtful modernity. Its sun-washed terracotta walls, tinted using local red clay, are framed by sweeping archways throughout the property. These traditional arches aren’t just structural — they reflect the Bañuelos family’s open, welcoming philosophy and lend a sense of flow and connection to the space.
Inside, intention and artistry are reflected in every detail. From slow-cooked agave to long fermentations (often over a week, accompanied by classical music), El Mexicano’s process celebrates patience and precision. The tequila is crafted in small batches using stainless-steel pot stills created by Master Tequilero León Bañuelos to enhance the spirit’s natural aromas and depth.
No Shortcuts — Just Patience and Time
El Mexicano is made entirely by Mexican hands under the NOM 1588. Every drop begins with pure, Blue Weber agave that’s fully matured — never harvested before its sixth year. The agave is slow-cooked for 18 to 24 hours in stainless-steel autoclaves, then milled via a five-step roller process. The extended fermentation — a standout in the industry — ensures maximum flavor development before the spirit undergoes double distillation to enhance the spirit’s natural aromas and depth. This painstaking process, overseen by the Bañuelos family from start to finish, reflects their unwavering commitment to craftsmanship and the integrity of the agave.
From the start, El Mexicano has been crafted with just three ingredients: agave, yeast, and water, staying true to the Bañuelos family’s commitment to simplicity, quality, and transparency. The Bañuelos family doesn’t believe in shortcuts. Their focus is, and always has been, on integrity, quality, and transparency.
They personally oversee 100 percent of the production process, from field to fermentation to final bottling. Every detail is meticulously managed by the family to ensure the tequila stays true to their vision and values.
Bottled Beauty and Heritage
Even the bottle tells a story. El Mexicano’s elegant new custom design features three concentric arches blown into the glass — symbolizing the three generations behind the brand. A colorful neck band inspired by the original tile work of the Hacienda, and the front label depicts the estate’s archways and bell: a welcoming emblem, inviting all who sip to share in the family’s legacy.
Meet the Tequilas
El Mexicano Blanco is the family’s flagship expression: bright, crystal-clear, and full of life. It opens with the unmistakable aroma of cooked agave, layered with zesty citrus and a hint of mint. On the palate, it’s vibrant, balanced, and herbal with a clean, lingering finish — ideal for sipping neat or as the base for elegant, agave-forward cocktails. For a perfect pairing, serve it alongside fresh ceviche, aguachile, or citrus-marinated grilled shrimp to mirror the spirit’s brightness and enhance its herbal lift.
Suggested Serve: Rancho Mexicano
1.5 ounces El Mexicano Blanco
1.5 ounces fresh grapefruit juice
0.5 ounce fresh lime juice
Tajin
Soda Water
Directions
Rim the highball glass with Tajin.
Add all ingredients to the glass and top with soda.
Garnish with fresh grapefruit wedge.
El Mexicano Blanco 90 amplifies the intensity while maintaining the brand’s signature clarity and balance. Bottled at 45 percent ABV, this unaged expression is crystal clear and vibrant, with bold aromas of cooked agave, baking spice and lemon mint. On the palate, it delivers a concentrated burst of agave flavor, underscored by bright minerality and a clean, structured finish. Ideal for elevating classic cocktails like Palomas and Margaritas, it also shines in unexpected pairings — try it with semi-sweet dark chocolate (50–60 percent cocoa) to amplify its earthy sweetness and create a truly unique tasting experience.
Suggested Serve: Paloma Spritz
0.75 ounce El Mexicano Blanco 90
1 ounce blood orange juice (or regular orange)
1 ounce fresh ruby red grapefruit juice
4 ounces Lucien Albrecht Crémant d’Alsace Brut Rosé
Directions
Add all to ice filled wine glass.
Garnish with a fresh grapefruit wedge.
El Mexicano Reposado takes that same agave core and rounds it out with time in oak. Aged for six months in a mix of French and American oak barrels, the result is a rounded, lightly golden spirit with soft notes of vanilla, caramel, and toasted spice. It’s beautifully balanced, with just enough oak to complement — not overpower — the agave character. Try it neat in a wide-mouthed glass to appreciate its complexity, or pair it with grilled pork al pastor or roasted squash to bring out its warm, savory undertones.
Suggested Serve: Yucatan Sunset
1.5 ounces El Mexicano Reposado
1 ounce fresh lime juice
1 chunk of fresh pineapple
0.5 ounce butterfly peaflower syrup
0.5 ounce orange liqueur
1 deseeded jalapeño harnish: jalapeño, lime wedge & fresh mint
Directions
Muddle a 1-inch chunk of fresh pineapple and a sliver of deseeded jalapeño in a shaker.
Add remaining ingredients and shake gently.
Double strain into an ice-filled lowball glass.
This Is Not Just a Spirit — It’s Their Spirit
El Mexicano isn’t about chasing trends. It’s about preserving and evolving a legacy. Every bottle is an invitation to experience the Bañuelos family’s life’s work: three generations of knowledge, heart, and handcraft distilled into a spirit that’s both timeless and deeply personal.
This is more than a business. It’s their passion, their purpose, their pride.
And when you taste it, you’re not just drinking tequila — you’re tasting the Bañuelos legacy.
This article is sponsored by El Mexicano.
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