Lagrimas De Valle, Tequila Reposado, El Chiqueno 2022 (Mexico)

Producer Notes: The second batch of Lagrimas del Valle Tequila begins with a parcel of land dubbed El Chiqueno. Deep in the heart of the Valles, near the iconic distilling town of Amatitan, the low elevation and humid summers of the region have encouraged a microclimate rich in tropical fruits including mango, citrus, prickly pear, and ciruela plum; though wide and flat to the eye, the valley features small but rolling hills with steep, short drop-offs which allow the agave to enjoy a bountiful saturation of rainwater with highly effective drainage—an ideal condition for cultivating complex, sugar-rich agave. The harvested piñas used for this batch reach an impressive average sugar level of around 32 brix (the industry standard today is around 18–20).