Patrón Goes Full Proof with Its First Distilled-to-Proof Blanco

Patrón has spent decades as the brand that introduced many drinkers to the idea that tequila can be taken to the next level. Its newest release—the first in two years—makes a case that there’s still room to climb.

Meet Patrón 100, the brand's first distilled-to-proof tequila. This 100-proof (50% ABV) blanco is built entirely on tahona production and bottled without dilution. No water added after distillation means whatever the agave gives you in the still is what ends up in the glass. At this proof, minerality and cooked-agave character that defines tahona-crushed Blue Weber come through with more weight than the standard Silver, the brand’s 80-proof calling card.

The tahona process is old school by design. Cooked agave piñas are slowly crushed under a volcanic stone wheel, which proponents argue extracts more of the fibrous, earthy character that defines traditional Jalisco production. Patrón has leaned into tahona as a point of differentiation for years, and with 18 tahona wheels running at Hacienda Patrón, they operate at a scale most tahona producers can’t approach.

To understand where the 100 sits, it helps to know what it’s beside. The core Patrón lineup—Silver, Reposado, Añejo, and Extra Añejo—all come in at 80 proof ($50, $55, $70, and $100, respectively). The Roca Patrón line, which is also tahona-produced, runs slightly higher in proof: the Roca Silver at 90, Reposado at 84, and Añejo at 88, with prices ranging from roughly $70 to $90. Above that sits the Gran Patrón tier—Platinum, Piedra, and the Bordeaux-finished Burdeos—which are sipping-oriented luxury expressions pushing well past $100. The 100 lands at $50, putting it right alongside the Silver in price while offering fuller flavor.

Higher proof doesn’t mean harsher taste. “We focused on building more depth and structure while keeping the balanced profile people expect from our tequilas,” said Patrón master distiller David Rodriguez, in a statement. “At 100 proof, the agave profile can really shine through, standing up beautifully to minerality and dilution in cocktails.”

Patrón 100 enters a space that’s been expanding, driven mostly by smaller producers. Fortaleza Still Strength (92 proof, $100) is the prestige uncut benchmark, enjoying a near-cult following. El Tequileño Still Strength (100 proof) represents the traditional end of the spectrum. Lalo High Proof (100 proof, $75) is a citrus-forward, newer entry, launched last year. Don Fulano Fuerte (100 proof, $60) rounds out the mid-tier, and Dulce Vida Blanco (100 proof, $30) is the category’s accessible entry point, though its high proof makes it very cocktail-compatible, as the high proof stands up to dilution and its bold flavor doesn’t get lost when mixed with other ingredients.

Patrón 100 is available nationwide.