The Mijento blanco represents the best of the current wave of choices for agave fans (photos courtesy of the distillery)

Once upon a time, there was Cuervo Gold.  And that was about it.

Now, you can scratch your head as you stand in front of the tequila wall at the liquor store, wondering which bottle to pick up.

Here’s another head scratcher. And it’s a good one.

Maestra tequilera Ana Maria Romero has another hit on her hands.

Mijenta, a tequila that hit the market late summer, with its blanco expression, really has me excited for its reposado, slated to come out later this year. Why? Because the blanco is truly beautiful—and that starts with the bottle it comes in. The wide vessel, with a glass-topped stopper, is more reminiscent of something a small-batch gin might come in, and the soft pink and British racing green label with a hand-drawn sketch of agave fields adds sophistication with a bit of whimsy. But it’s what’s inside that’s a showstopper.

Created by well-respected veteran maestra tequilera Ana Maria Romero Mena, who was responsible for developing Volcan de Mi Tierra for LVMH, Mijenta is distilled from 100% Weber Blue agave from the Highlands of Jalisco. The tequila, whose name is derived from “mi gente,” which means “my people” in Spanish, comes in at a manageable 80 proof. The nose offers light grass, river stones, minerality, some caramel, and a bit of citrus. It has a super smooth mouthfeel that offers a hint of heat and spice on the finish. But in between you get tropical fruit, honey, peppery notes, and vanilla. Did I say it’s smooth?

Coming in at $50, this is a premium blanco tequila, but it is certainly worth the price, and deserves the opportunity to be sipped—though its elegant profile makes it a great choice for subtler agave cocktails.