Gerardo Ruelas Hernandez
Cardenxe
45%
NAS
Cardenxe Sotol de Desierto is distilled in the town of Aldama, Chihuahua using a blend of three desert spoon varietals: Berlandieri, Cedrosanum and Texanum. Following 12 to 15 years of growth, the plants are harvested, cooked in rock-lined earth ovens, crushed by axe, fermented in pine wood tubs and double distilled in copper stills. Sotolero Gerardo Ruelas Hernandez designed the bottling as a reflection of the region's arid terroir. It's bottled at 45% ABV and demands a price tag of $59.99.
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Classic sotol with a light and lactic edge. Tangerine, citrus pith and green grapes combine for a tangy, almost effervescent fruit character, giving way to funkier hints of hay, thicket, mowed grass and a touch of must.
Kicks off with an ashy barbecue note that coats the palate, lingering across every flavor from here on out. Notes of firewood, roasted peach, cocoa nibs and burnt veggies balance out a nice mix of sweet and savory influences. A sparkle of limestone minerality picks up after a few sips, alongside some of that characteristic flowers and grass vibe.
Circles back to the fresh squeezed sweetness hinted at on the nose. Plenty of lime and grapefruit, lavender, dark chocolate and tilled earth. Everything's coated in a thick puff of smoke that carries through as the rumbling baseline.
Citrus, smoke and minerality combine for an experience that feels quintessentially sotol from front to end. If you enjoy your spirits on the ashy side, this one is sure to dazzle.
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Disclosure: The producer provided this sample to review free of charge, and without expectation of review or rating.
