Charanda, 'Cana Cristalina', 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 Cristalina 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 • Dense and generous aromatics of plantain, tangerine peel, and guava with a touch of clove and anise are followed by a rich palate full bursting with soft tropical fruits, cut grass, wet clay, and subtle vanilla bean • 49% ABV Introduced to Mexico by the Spanish, Caña Cristalina is the thickest and juiciest of the sugarcanes found in Michoacán and represents 35% of the Pacheco family’s crop. Its name stems from the fine layers of white crystal “hairs” that cover its densely clustered stalks; in beautiful contrast, the stalks themselves and their leaves are a dark hue of jade green. Hearty and weather-resistant yet easy and plentiful to extract, this sugarcane offers distinctly rich and fruit-laden spirits in distillation.