Hacienda de Chihuahua has been producing sotol within the desert of Chihuahua for the reason that nineteenth century, utilizing a non-industrial course of that appears to be unchanged for a lot of its existence. The distillery gives a surprisingly giant portfolio of aged and unaged sotol, even a pair of sotol-based cream liqueurs. In the present day we’re taking an preliminary take a look at a blanco and anejo expression. Each sotols are comprised of pinas of the Dasylirion plant harvested from the Excessive Chihuahuan Desert in Northern Mexico. Ideas comply with.
NOM 159.
Hacienda de Chihuahua Sotol Rustico Assessment
Crystal clear, the sotol noses with a brilliant sweetness and ample acidity, a showcase for overripe apples and bubblegum, tamarind sweet, and brown banana. Whereas not smoky, it does odor cooked — acidic and sharp, with a lingering, peppery pungency.
The palate is once more very sharp and pushy, extraordinarily fruity and overripe, and slightly exhausting to put. The fruit veers into citrus and ginger, searing the palate with extra acidity and rustic funk. Grassy notes creep into the fold because it develops, shifting from there right into a extra smoldering, moist earthiness. Chalky minerals give the end an extra pastoral high quality, whereas a squeeze of lime and citrus on the end perk up for a brighter method out.
Followers of extra aggressive tequilas and mezcals with much less of a smoky character ought to get pleasure from it.
90 proof. B+ / $50
Hacienda de Chihuahua Sotol Anejo Assessment
This sotol is comprised of the identical slow-cooked and fermented Dasylirion pinas, but it surely then undergoes a triple distillation course of earlier than getting old for 2 full years in new French oak barrels. It’s bottled at a naked minimal 38% abv.
The oak has imbued a really refined, golden hue, even after two lengthy years of getting old, however its time within the barrel is extra apparent within the aroma which showcases massive high notes of break up vanilla bean and softer baking spice, all of that are properly complemented by the sotol’s underlying sweetness. The barrel has tamed the acidity, however traces stay with undertones of cooked pineapple, guava, and that very same pink bubblegum word we encountered within the blanco. Because it opens, issues sweeten additional with ripe melon and cotton sweet notes.
The palate isn’t practically as bracingly candy or piercing because the blanco. And nowhere close to as advanced. The mouthfeel is relatively skinny and watery, even accounting for the discount in proof, and taste struggles to seek out a lot footing. Whispers of candy vanilla taffy, cinnamon sugar, and one thing vaguely vegetal are probably the most you may hope for till the end when a little bit of cracked black pepper, cedar, and clove provide, finally, a motive to return for one more easy-drinking sip. Inoffensive however missing character, it’s a good technique to begin your sotol journey, however I can’t assist questioning what this may style like at a extra respectable abv. -DB
76 proof. B- / $50
Hacienda de Chihuahua Sotol Rustico
USD50
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