Tequila is more than just one state's tale, it's the story of multiple regions within Mexico, each contributing to the rich nuances of this renowned spirit. Indeed, the Blue Weber agave used in tequila production is largely associated with Jalisco, a Mexican state famed for housing the most reputable distilleries. However, Jalisco is only a fraction of tequila's comprehensive narrative, making up merely one fifth of the territories covered by the Denomination of Origin (DOT).

Tequila's DOT includes an extensive 181 municipalities spread across five states: Jalisco, Michoacán, Guanajuato, Nayarit, and Tamaulipas. All these areas, despite their geographical differences, legally produce tequila. With the identical agave species planted across different terrains, an abundance of aroma and flavor diversity is introduced to tequila, thanks to the variety in soil, weather and farming techniques.

Ana María Romero, the master tequilera behind Mijenta Tequila, utilized this diversity in her second volume of the annual Maestra Selection series. Maestra Selection No. 2 is a harmonious blend of agaves grown in unique estates spanning all five territories, distilled individually, then mix-matched and bottled without any barrel-aging to maintain the intense flavors of the agave.

Romero's career background in sommelier has drawn her focus on terroir. This new release provided her an opportunity to show how environmental variances shape the agaves' taste profiles and evoke a cultural celebration of Mexico's tequila spirit. She emphasizes how differences in soil properties, elevations, rainfall patterns and cultivation methods have led to a marked diversity in agave profiles.

Typically, Mijenta's tequila gets its agave supplies from the highlands of Jalisco. However, for the creation of Maestra Selection No. 2, Romero decided to orchestrate a twist, procuring agave grown in the valleys for the Jalisco component. This decision enabled inclusion of unique tasting notes from Jalisco that diverge from Mijenta's regular profile.

Although the multi-regional approach to tequila production presents ample chances to create terroir-focused tequila, Mijenta is among the pioneers utilizing it. Romero reveals that traditionally, producers seldom categorize agave based on regions or specific areas during production, therefore overlooking the distinctive attributes of each. Nevertheless, she wanted Maestra Selection No. 2 to highlight the individuality of other states, besides Jalisco, within the tequila's DOT.

The best blend for Maestra Selection No. 2, Romero articulates, is an even split between the five regions, allowing the unique character of each territory to assert itself. This led to the variety of taste notes: Guanajuato's caramel and spice, Michoacan's citrus and red fruit, Nayarit's preserved fruits, herbs and almonds, Tamaulipas's mint, fresh grass, sage and spices and finally Jalisco's herbal and citrus touches.

At retail price of $75, this limited-edition blanco tequila comes in a packaging as unique as its content, designed by Mexico City's artist, Sophia Castellanos, who adorned the box and bottle with symbols of spirit animals representing each state.

Romero keeps any future plans for the Maestra series under wraps, hinting at "exciting projects in the works." But for now, the one-time-only Maestra Selection No. 2 is available – until it runs out.