Review: Lagrimas del Valle Plata Tequila El Chiqueno
Lagrimas del Valle is a vintage single ranch tequila. Each vintage of Lagrimas is harvested from a single field. W.L. Lyons Brown III the founder of Lagrimas and Altamar Brands collaborated with the Rosales Family of Tequila Cascahuin. Master Distiller Salvadore Chava Rosales Trejo is a fourth generation distiller with a family history dating back to 1904. El Chiqueno is their second vintage. It is crafted from 100% blue agave harvested in 2022 with an average brix of 32%. The agave is grown at an elevation of 1260 meters south of the Rio Santiago near Amatitan. This field is adjacent to Palo Verde, their first vintage which was made with 100% agave with an average 35% brix. The agave is cooked in masonry steam ovens. A traditional stone tahona crushes 30% of the cooked agave. The extracted juice is fermented in wood fermentation tanks. A steel roller mill extracts the remaining 70% and that nectar is fermented in stainless steel tanks. After a double distillation, deep well water is blended before bottling at a higher octane, 92 proof. The aroma leads with cooked agave, olive, and citrus. Additional time brings out earthy agave and mint. The sweet citrus and cooked agave builds to a tropical fruit peak. It fades with lemon, olive, saline, and mineral and finishes with lemon, vanilla, cooked agave, mint, and black pepper.
NOM: 1123
46% Alcohol
Agave Region: Lowlands
Score: 91
Award: Gold Medal