Episode Transcript
[00:00:00] A 29 year old master distiller making high proof tequila at a brand new distillery sounds like a gamble, but this Ramido high proof Blanco at 49% ABV might be one of the most interesting examples of terroir driven tequila I've seen in a while. Let's break this down because there's a lot happening here. This tequila comes from Tisipan El Alto, right on the shores of Lake Chapala, one of the largest lakes in all of Mexico. Here's what they're doing different. They're not highlands, they're not Valles. They're building something entirely on its own. A true tequila terroir from Chapala. This is coming from Casa Tecaleria Joselito NAM 1675, a brand new distillery. It's owned by Jose Trinidad Gonzalez Vargas and the master distiller is his son, Oswald Gonzalez, 29 years old. This is an inexperience. This, this is generational knowledge being handed down and executed in a modern way. Let's talk about their production because this one's a little interesting. First of all, you got masonry ovens for cooking, you got a roller mill for extraction. But the key for these guys is spontaneous fermentation using wild yeast from the region. No lab, no shortcuts, just whatever's truly naturally present in the environment around Chapala. Then they take that step just a little bit further. Their fermentation tanks are actually set down in the ground.
[00:01:23] Why does it matter? Because it naturally regulates temperature, which allows for a longer, slower fermentation and lets those yeast fully develop the profile. Then it's double distilled in copper pots and bottled at 49% ABV. And I really can't wait to taste this one. I've seen so many great reviews about it and so many people talk about it. I also want to talk about the region. The region around Chapala isn't just agave fields like we see in the highlands and the Valles. They've got agriculture everywhere. Berries, onions, chili verde, vegetables growing all around the area. And all of those natural influences are yeast in the air, which directly impact this fermentation, which means you're actually going to taste the environment. This is a fresh pop. Let's get this one in the glass.
[00:02:13] Okay, on the nose. Let's see.
[00:02:16] Great cooked agave. I get a little salinity, a little green pepper and a really nice vegetable note. There's also like a petrichor note or a real deep minerality note. Honestly, there's a little bit of citrus in there too. I'M trying to figure out if that is orange or if it's a like a lime zest. I think I'll have to come back to that. I really hope this opens up even more. I've heard some people say that when they went back to it, it opened up with even more flavors. Really great nose. Let's dive into the palate. Wow. On the taste. Cooked agave is there. You can tell it's a higher proof, but it's not like a killer bite. Agave is really nice too. It opens up really earthy. Those vegetable notes are there. I do just get a touch of that citrus. It kind of brings some of those things I was getting in the nose. This like earthy note, like not, not quite full on petrichor, not quite metallic, but kind of a blend of that, you know, minerality that you get maybe in some well water or something like that. There's also a little bit of a minty note and almost a touch of like a pine note that shows up in there too. I got to say, I really like this one. This is, this is a treat.
[00:03:25] Great mouthfeel. The finish is long. It kind of warms up. It's really balanced as well. Kind of gets you in the back of the mouth. A lot of really nice flavors. Bottom line, not just another new tequila. This is a tequila with a statement. This is coming out of a new area with a brand new distillery and a super new generation of making tequila. As a 29 year old kid that, I mean it's pretty amazing.
[00:03:50] Definitely a 29 year old young man that knows what he's doing. I can't wait to give some more information about the label they've got. The back of the bottle has a coyote built into the glass with the agave. It is really cool. Hope to have an interview with these guys coming out really soon to get more information about this. If you've had Ramido, let me know in the comments. Let me know what your thoughts are on this one. Let me know what you think of a 29 year old master distiller bringing a new tequila like this to market. I'd love to hear your thoughts on this one and if you've had it, I want to know. Cheers. If you like videos about tequila, reviews and information, interviews with brand owners, hit that like and subscribe button. I really appreciate you watching my videos. I hope you have a great tequila tonight. Cheers.
