Charanda, 'Cana Criolla', 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 Criolla 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 bright on the nose with subtle herbs, citrus zest, and quiet minerality; the palate opens into Bosc pear, green apple, lime, and distinct notes of cut hay and fresh soil; a lingering sense of peppercorn and papaya carry a long finish. • 49% ABV  One of the two most common sugarcanes used on the Pacheco family estate, representing approximately 35% of their crop, Caña Criolla is the oldest variety introduced by the Spanish in the 16th century and the most widely distributed across present day Mexico. It has a long lifespan, with plantings able to survive over 40 years, and offers abundant juice, but it is very vulnerable to extremes of heat and cold. Its stalks are thin, separated by 3–3.5 centimeters, and flowers bountifully for pollination.