Teremana Tequila Blanco

Teremana (basically, a combination of Latin and Polynesian words that means “Spirit of the Earth”) is the first spirits release from actor Dwayne Johnson and his co-founders

Why we’re drinking this: Besides the celebrity angle? Teremana’s big push is for transparency — and to their credit, the back of the tequila’s label nicely lays out the agave, NOM, roasting methods, type of stills, barrels, calories, carb, sugars and some tasting notes. 

The low-calorie, zero-sugar, zero-carbs, gluten-free (by the way, most spirits are gluten-free unless they’re adding something artificial) designation here seems designed for the diet-conscious. Based on past interviews with everyone from Nick Jonas to Stephen Jenkins, it’s obvious that tequila remains the go-to spirit for the healthy jetset. 

The two tequilas here are crafted from 100% mature blue weber agave from the Highlands of Jalisco, utilizing plants that are between six and eight years old. It’s brick oven-roasted for three days, goes through an open-tank fermentation process, and is then distilled in small handmade copper pot stills. In a nice nod toward sustainability, remnant agave fibers from production are turned into a natural compost that is used as an organic fertilizer for the agave fields. 

The blanco is bright and grassy on the nose with a healthy dose of black pepper and a tiny hint of mint on the palate. It’s sweet, smooth, and even a bit creamy. (A lot of online reviewers have picked up citrus notes — I did not, but hey, we’re all different.) Seems perfect for any refreshing tequila cocktail where you don’t need to be overwhelmed by the agave … say, perhaps, tequila and soda.