There’s something distinctly American about the pursuit of more—more flavor, more fire, more thrill in a glass—and Tequila Zarpado, that plucky upstart from Latitude Beverage, has answered the call with the release of Zarpado REAPER, a Carolina Reaper- and Habanero-infused Blanco Tequila that comes on like a fever dream and leaves behind something like clarity.
This isn’t just another spicy tequila. It’s the first Carolina Reaper-infused Tequila to officially hit the U.S. market. The fourth expression in Zarpado’s modest but punchy lineup, REAPER is a deliberate step into the volcano, a blend of high-Scoville bravado and agave-rooted integrity.
Crafted from 100% mature Blue Weber Agave, slow-cooked and double-distilled—Zarpado’s calling card—the base spirit holds its own. But the real story here is how that clean, agave-forward canvas gets transformed. The Carolina Reaper, currently the reigning monarch of chili pepper infamy, brings not just heat but a surprisingly complex fruitiness. Alongside it, the Habanero throws floral sparks into the fire.
You get the sensory hit right away. The nose jumps with stone fruit and chili, layered over sweet, clean agave. Sip it (bravely), and it doesn’t just attack—you’re pulled through a progression: tropical pineapple, papaya, a lick of smoke, and then that slow-building, mouth-coating fire that seems less like a burn and more like illumination. It’s not heat for heat’s sake. It’s curated chaos.
“Spicy cocktails and spirits continue to gain popularity,” says Terry Lozoff, VP and Spirits Director at Latitude Beverage, whose tone walks the fine line between mad scientist and marketing savant. “You’re going to taste the heat, of course… but the spice is balanced, and doesn’t get in the way of the great flavor of this Tequila.”
The suggested retail price is a very unscary $28.99, making this a bottle equally suited for back-bar experimentation or backyard dares. It’s available online in most states and rolling out in select U.S. markets.
You can explore more at the brand’s official website and follow the heat trail on Instagram at @TequilaZarpado.
Zarpado REAPER isn’t a gimmick. It’s a gauntlet. And if you’re bold enough to sip it straight, you might just find yourself changed.
