Blasfemus 7
Seven-year-old agave. The entry point, and the one most guests meet first.
Ancestral Craft Spirits · Roma, Texas
The first agave spirit ever made in Texas.
Blasfemus is distilled inside the Manuel Guerra Store of 1884, on the Roma plaza above the Rio Grande. Three expressions. One place on earth to drink them at the source.
2021Distilling in Roma since
3Expressions — 7 · 11 · 17
5.0★Google rating, 31 reviews
1884The Manuel Guerra Store
Why it is called Blasfemus
Not tequila. Not mezcal. Texas.
Mexico’s denomination-of-origin rules reserve tequila and mezcal for spirits made in specific Mexican states. Distil agave on the Texas side of the river and you may call it neither.
When Leonardo Sanchez and Eduardo Ocampo told friends in Mexico what they intended to build, the reaction ranged from surprise to outrage. Sacrilege, more or less. So they named the spirit after it.
Eduardo’s family settled in Roma eight generations ago, when this was still Spanish territory. The distillery sits in the 140-year-old general store at the centre of that history — and there are 2,500 agaves in the ground along the Rio Grande waiting on their first Texas-grown harvest.
The spirit
What the numbers 7, 11 and 17 mean
Each expression is named for the age of the agave at harvest. The label states it outright — “Blended with 7 year old Agave.” Guests taste all three side by side.
Experiences
How you can spend an evening here
Five ways in, from a forty-five minute tasting to a full day making a bottle with your own name on it.
Distiller for a Day
Grind, distil, bottle and sign your own spirit. Leave with the only bottle like it.
Cigar Club
Our rarest pours paired with premium cigars, in a room built for taking your time.
Guest Bartenders
Weekends where a visiting bartender takes the bar with original Blasfemus cocktails.
Texan BBQ Experience
Family-style Texas barbecue cooked over fire, with guided pairings from the still.
Private events
Where would your people never have been before?
A dinner among the barrels. A company night nobody has seen the venue for. A wedding reception, a quinceañera, a full buyout of a building that has stood on this plaza since 1884.
We hold Monday and Tuesday open for private bookings, so a private event does not have to compete with the bar calendar.
- Seated capacity — [CAPACITY]
- Standing / reception capacity — [CAPACITY]
- Bar packages, catering and lead time confirmed at enquiry
5.0 on Google · 31 reviews · not one below five
What guests say after the tour
★★★★★
“Had an amazing tour and explanation from Leonardo regarding the entire agave spirit process at their beautiful facility in Roma, Texas. Our time at their beautiful historic facility was very thorough, explaining the history and process of mezcal and tequila and ultimately the agave spirit they produce in Texas. We had many questions and the passion and knowledge held by Leonardo was evident. Highly recommend the visit to Roma to visit Ancestral facility to taste Blasfemus!!”
★★★★★
“We had the absolute pleasure of visiting the Ancestral Distillery and taking a tour with Leonardo. Not only is the distillery stunning but it’s steeped in history both in Roma and in its founders’ family histories. Leonardo’s knowledge of the production and history of both Agave and Mezcal is incredible and his passion for the agave spirit that they have created out of these rich traditions is so evident. We tried all three expressions of Blasfemus, the 7, 11 and 17 and each are beautiful and highlight the different agave varieties and they shine in each expression. If you have the opportunity to go, do! And bring plenty of friends along.”
★★★★★
“This place is amazing! A must if you’re in Roma — beautifully restored building with tons of local history. I purchased a bottle of 11 and I did a tasting of all three spirits, loved all three. I will definitely be going back — the patio in back was also very nice.”
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Plan the drive
When are you open?
| Wednesday | 8:00 – 11:00 PM |
|---|
702 N Portscheller St, Roma, Texas 78584 — on the historic plaza, thirty seconds from the Roma Bluffs World Birding Center.
Good to know
What people ask before they drive out
Is Blasfemus a tequila or a mezcal?
Neither — and that is the whole point. Mexico’s denomination-of-origin rules reserve the words tequila and mezcal for spirits made in specific Mexican states. Blasfemus is distilled in Roma, Texas, so it can be neither. It is an American agave spirit. The name is a wink at the reaction the idea got south of the border.
Can I visit the distillery?
Yes. We are open for guided tours, tastings and private experiences Wednesday through Sunday, and closed Monday and Tuesday. Reserve ahead — the building is historic and group sizes are genuinely limited. See the full hours and plan your visit.
How far is Roma from McAllen?
Roma sits about 60 miles west of McAllen on US 83 — roughly an hour’s drive, and about 20 minutes from Rio Grande City. The Roma Bluffs World Birding Center is a thirty-second walk from our front door, which is why most guests build a half day around the trip rather than a single stop.
Come stand inside 1884.
Reserve a tasting, book the Distiller for a Day, or ask about the courtyard for your event.