Bandero Debuts First Reposado, Aged in Three Types of Oak
Most reposados lean on a single kind of barrel, but Bandero Premium Tequila just released one aged in three. Bandero Reposado is the brand's first aged expression, built from separate lots of Hungarian, French and American white oak. It joins the Blanco and the coffee-infused Bandero Café, and it is arriving now at select retailers.
Did You Know?
Bandero Reposado has been in development since 2023, so this bottle took roughly three years to reach shelves.
It is made in small batches of about 26 selected barrels, and the barrels previously aged either wine or bourbon.
Master distiller Lee Palleschi tastes every barrel during the 11th month of aging, and only the ones that meet his standards go into the final blend.
The Release
Bandero Reposado starts with 100% Blue Weber agave and is made without additives at NOM 1627. (A NOM is the number that identifies which distillery produced a tequila.) The tequila rests for just under 12 months, which keeps it in reposado territory, since reposado means "rested" and covers tequila aged for less than a year.
The twist is that the aging is split across Hungarian, French and American white oak, with each type kept in its own lots and judged on its own merits.
Palleschi explains the thinking this way: the Hungarian and French oak add savory notes and subtle spice, while the American oak brings the familiar vanilla and caramel. In his words, "We taste every barrel individually, and not all make the cut." In month 11 he noses and tastes the tequila from each barrel, looking at aroma, color and flavor, and then selects the barrels for the blend.
According to the brand, the finished tequila is a deep amber color with sweet oak and roasted agave on the nose. The palate moves from savory dark caramel to earthy, sweet agave, then mature oak, dried fruit and buttery vanilla. The finish is described as velvety smooth, clean and bright. Palleschi recommends sipping it neat, at room temperature, in a wide glass so the aromas can open up.
It is bottled at 40% ABV (80 proof) in a 750 ml version of the brand's canteen-inspired bottle, made from recycled glass and wrapped in leather. The suggested price is $29.99 in California and $39.99 in other markets. Select retailers have it now, with broader distribution expected in late November and December. It is also on Bandero's website in states that allow direct-to-consumer spirits shipping.
The Story of Bandero
Bandero Premium Tequila was founded by John Paul DeJoria, co-founder of Patrón Tequila and Paul Mitchell Hair Care, and Jonathan Kendrick, co-founder of ROKiT Industries. It is a Jalisco-made tequila built around slow-cooked Blue Weber agave and small-batch production.
The lineup began with a Blanco that the brand describes as 100% additive-free, and it has won a gold medal. Bandero Café followed, infused with Mexican coffee and agave honey. The canteen-style bottle wrapped in leather is the brand's visual signature, and the Reposado keeps it.
As of April 2025, the Blanco and Café were sold in California, Colorado, Texas, New York, New Jersey, Illinois, Nevada and North Carolina. The release did not say which markets will get the Reposado first, and the brand describes its growth as a national expansion.
Why It Stands Out
Many reposados use a single barrel type, so a deliberate three-oak approach gives drinkers a clear point of comparison. The barrel-by-barrel selection also means the batch size stays small, at about 26 barrels. At $29.99 to $39.99, it sits in an approachable range for an additive-free, small-batch aged tequila.
The Details
Style: Reposado tequila
Age: Just under 12 months
ABV/Proof: 40% ABV (80 proof)
Agave: 100% Blue Weber
Cask/Finish: Separate lots of Hungarian, French and American white oak barrels, previously used for wine or bourbon
NOM: 1627
Release Size: Small batches of approximately 26 barrels
Bottle: 750 ml
Price (SRP): $29.99 in California, $39.99 in other markets
Availability: Select retailers now, broader retail distribution expected in late November and December, plus Bandero's website where direct-to-consumer shipping is permitted
Release Date: Announced October 20, 2026
Tonights Poison Take
A reposado that treats each oak type as its own ingredient is an interesting study for anyone who likes comparing barrels. The grounded price and the small 26-barrel batches make it easy to try without a big commitment. Sip it neat in a wide glass, as Palleschi suggests, and see which oak you pick out first.
Bar Talk: Bandero's first reposado is aged in Hungarian, French and American oak, and its master distiller rejects any barrel that doesn't make the cut.
Send this to the friend who always asks what oak does to tequila, and tell us in the comments which barrel you would taste first.
Please enjoy responsibly.
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