Puntagave "Rustico" Bacanora Blanco
Whites
$50.00
Bacanora is arguably Mexico's most storied and rebellious spirit — banned for 77 years, from 1915 to 1992, its production was driven underground rather than extinguished, becoming a powerful symbol of regional identity and resistance for the people of Sonora. Protected by a Denomination of Origin since the year 2000, Bacanora can only legally be produced in the state of Sonora, and Puntagave holds the distinction of being the first producer to import a legal, 90-proof premium Bacanora into the United States. Puntagave's Rustico Bacanora is crafted by fifth-generation maestro bacanorero Roberto Contreras at his palenque in Rancho Tepúa, Aconchi, whose family has been producing Bacanora since the time of the Mexican Revolution. The spirit is made from wild-harvested Agave Angustifolia Haw (Agave Pacifica), hand-selected from the canyons of the Sierra Madre mountains and packed out by burro — a testament to just how remote and labor-intensive this production truly is. The agave hearts are slow-roasted in underground earthen pits, then fermented with wild yeasts in stainless steel vats for 8 to 10 days before being double distilled in copper stills using mesquite charcoal as the heat source. The result is bottled at a robust 90 proof. On the nose, expect notes of cedar wood, cooking spice, and ripe berries, with a richness reminiscent of the inside of a cigar box. The palate is semi-sweet with notes of chocolate, saline, and a creamy texture, giving way to dry pine, subtle vegetal grassiness, and a finish of anise and black cherry. Bacanora occupies a category entirely its own — earthy, sweet, and faintly smoky, with a depth of character that reflects centuries of tradition and the wild, rugged landscape of Sonora.
Available for pickup, local delivery, or shipping from 1128 W Armitage Ave, Chicago.