Charanda, 'Cana Mexicana', Uruapan Charanda

• Single varietal, agricole-style sugarcane spirit produced by the historic Pacheco family at Sol Tarasco in Uruapan, Michoacán • Protected Denomination of Origin (PDO) Charanda • Distilled from single estate Caña Mexicana sugarcane cultivated over 4,000 feet above sea level • Milled using a 100-year-old water-powered mill • Open-air fermented in wooden tanks, using only ambient yeast, for one to two weeks (varying by season) • Distilled twice using 1,000-liter copper pot stills fired with biomass • Fresh and herbaceous aromatics abound with notes of tarragon and coriander alongside lime and plum skins; the palate is thick and earthy, with prominent notes of orchard fruit, orange zest, a subtle bit of custard, and banana pastry. A heady minerality underpins the whole affair, with notes of petrichor and granite. • 49% ABV Representing 15% of the estate crop, Caña Mexicana closely resembles Caña Criolla’s shading and structure but with more hues of yellow and thicker stalks that grow much more densely clustered, similar to Caña Cristalina. Full of green, grassy aromatics and herbal complexity, this is a delightful spirit to unpack at length; allow it to breathe and open over time.