Rancho Tepa Reserva Del Vinatero Palmilla Sotol Blanco 750ml

Introducing the Rancho Tepa Palmilla, a fine and unique sotol crafted by Maestro Vinatero Roberto Contreras. This exquisite spirit is produced with wild Sonoran Dasylirion wheeleri, also known as palmilla, which is painstakingly hand-harvested and prepared to preserve the essence of the Sonoran Desert.

The production process is a delicate dance of tradition and patience. The palmilla is roasted for 48 hours in an underground pit oven, teasing out a rich, smoky flavor that forms the heart of this sotol. It’s then fermented with pure spring water for 8-12 days, allowing the natural, earthy flavors to develop and intensify. The final step is a meticulous distillation in a combination of copper and stainless steel, balancing the old with the new to produce a complex and harmonious spirit.

Rancho Tepa is a testament to heritage and tradition, hailing from the vita of Roberto Contreras in Rancho Tepua, Aconchi, in Sonora. Roberto is a 5th-generation Bacanorero who mastered the craft of Bacanora production from his father, Don Lalo. Despite a 77-year ban on Bacanora production from 1915 to 1992, his family continued to distill this spirit in hidden distilleries scattered across their ranch. The term “Tepua” symbolizes an ax in the language of the Opatas, an indigenous tribe of the Sonoran Sierra Madre Mountains, and represents the primary tool used in agave harvest for Bacanora production.

Tasting Notes

On tasting, the Rancho Tepa Palmilla surprises with its soft, delicate character, unveiling layers of earthy, fruity, and herbal notes. The overall experience can be likened to lying on cool granite rocks by a serene stream in a Sonoran oasis, savoring a ripe mango while a hint of smoked meat adds a robust twist. This exceptional sotol brings forth a sensory journey that captures the spirit and essence of the Sonoran Desert.