This new tequila was bottled at the highest legal proof
This new tequila was bottled at 110 proof—the maximum strength Mexican regulators allow under the name tequila. Herradura’s Directo de Alambique returns more than a decade after its 2012 debut, capturing still strength straight from the alambique. Limited bottles are available now at select U.S. retailers for a suggested $80.
Key Takeaways
- Herradura Directo de Alambique clocks in at 110 proof (55% ABV), the CRT upper limit for labeling a spirit as tequila.
- The bottling is a re-release of a 2012 expression, returning after more than a decade off shelves.
- Production uses Blue Weber agaves from multiple Mexican terroirs, clay-oven cooking, and open-air fermentation near fruit trees.
- Suggested retail is $80, with limited quantities at select retailers across the country.
What makes Herradura’s high-proof tequila stand out?
Most tequila is bottled at the legal minimum of 80 proof. According to Robb Report’s coverage, Directo de Alambique is bottled at still strength—the proof at which the spirit comes off the still.
That 110-proof mark is the upper ceiling set by the CRT, Mexico’s tequila regulator. Robb Report notes it edges past other still-strength names such as El Tequileño (100), Fortaleza (92), Suerte (104), and Cazcanes No. 10 (108).
Global brand ambassador William Brooks said the release reflects Casa Herradura’s commitment to traditional tequila-making while meeting evolving consumer tastes. For luxury lifestyle readers who also track premium homes and estates, browse BlasterPost’s Luxury Real Estate & Dream Homes hub for parallel collector-culture coverage.
How is Directo de Alambique made?
The brand says Blue Weber agaves grown in different Mexican terroirs build a layered profile. Piñas cook in clay ovens for 26 hours, then ferment in the open air near fruit trees—a step Herradura credits with wild yeast and a distinctive character.
The spirit is distilled twice and bottled at 110 proof, or 55 percent ABV. Official tasting notes cite cooked agave, fresh fruit, citrus, herbs, and a touch of olive oil. Robb Report did not receive a sample to taste independently.
Why would drinkers want a 110-proof tequila?
Undiluted spirits let enthusiasts compare still-strength tequila with everyday 80-proof bottles, much as whiskey fans chase barrel proof. Higher ABV can also hold up in cocktails so agave flavor is not drowned by mixers.
Some simply want a stronger shot. Directo de Alambique is available now in limited quantities at select U.S. retailers, with an SRP of $80.
When was this expression last available?
Directo de Alambique first appeared in 2012. Fans waited more than ten years for the re-release announced in July 2026. With tight supply and a price that sits in the premium everyday range rather than ultra-rare auction territory, it is positioned as a high-proof collector pour rather than a museum piece.