Sol Tarasco Charanda Rum Hongos

Tarasco Distillery stands as a testament to the rich heritage and traditions of Mexican spirit-making. Based in the heart of Mexico, the distillery is steeped in history, producing spirits that echo the flavours and character of the region.

The name "Tarasco" pays homage to the indigenous Tarascan or P'urhepecha people of Michoacán, Mexico, known for their resilience, culture, and history. With this namesake, Tarasco Distillery aims to encapsulate not just the flavours of the land but also the essence of its people.

One of the most notable characteristics of spirits produced at Tarasco is their authenticity. Utilising traditional methods, each batch is carefully crafted, ensuring a profile that's true to its roots. This often means employing methods like using copper pot stills or ageing in oak barrels to impart a distinct character to the spirits.

While many Mexican distilleries are renowned for their tequila or mezcal, Tarasco Distillery provides a diversified portfolio, offering not only these classics but also other spirits that showcase the versatility of Mexican ingredients and craftsmanship.

A visit to Tarasco Distillery would reveal the dedication and passion that goes into each bottle. From the meticulous selection of raw materials to the careful distillation process, every step is a dance between tradition and innovation. This balance ensures that while the spirits remain authentic to their heritage, they also appeal to the modern palate, offering nuances that are both familiar and intriguing.

The distillery also emphasises sustainability, understanding the importance of giving back to the land that provides so much. This commitment is seen in their practices, from sourcing local ingredients to ensuring minimal waste and environmental impact.

In the world of spirits, Tarasco Distillery stands out for its dedication to authenticity, quality, and the celebration of Mexican heritage.

This traditional spirit is distilled from pressed sugarcane juice in a similar form to the likes of Agricole rum and Cachaça. This particular expression has also been treated with an infusion of Cordyceps Sinensis mushrooms, a funghi that is traditionally used by the local Purépecha people of northern Michoacan and is believed to have medicinal qualities. An intriguing spirit for intrepid explorers, and fab for unusual cocktail creations too.

Softly sweet with delicate woody spice and a smooth texture. Distant earthy notes are there beneath, but honey sweetness and a touch of citrus zest prevail.

Nolan - From the Spotlight on the Grape and Cane Spirits of the America’s Blog

Mexico is our next stop for a more obscure take on rums. This rum style is called Charanda and is one of the native products of Michoacan province in Mexico. Michoacan is a province famed for its Mezcal production and is situated on Pacific coastline just to the South of the famous Tequila state of Jalisco. Apart from the obvious crops of Agave, Michoacan also grows huge amounts of sugar cane. Most rum islands in the Caribbean do not produce anywhere near enough sugar cane to support their rum industries and so import molasses, mainly from central and South America. Mexico is self-sufficient. With this fresh and plentiful supply of sugar cane right on their doorstep, Charanda’s are distilled from the raw cane juice instead of the molasses found in most of the Caribbean.

Raw sugar cane juice gives you a vastly different flavour profile to molasses. Molasses, that black, viscous syrup makes up over 90% of the Caribbean and the America’s production of rum, this is the flavour that most people are comfortable with. More detectable in an unaged spirit, sugar cane juice rums offer the purest flavour of the sugar cane plant itself. Being a giant form of grass, these rums are renowned for their grassy, vegetal flavour profiles. Time in oak tones down the overt cane flavours in the rums and transforms them into pure honey.

Here are three expressions to look at. The choice between the 8 and 10 year old expressions mainly comes down to how much oak and tannin you enjoy in your rums. The flavours range from dark coffee chocolates, spiced honey, and dried stone fruits in the 8yo to deeper, silkier characters of toasted oak and vanilla, with hints of prunes and soft, sweet spices developing alongside a touch of earthy coffee in the 10yo.

The Hongos is different beast entirely. with an infusion of Cordyceps Sinensis mushrooms, a fungi that is traditionally used by the local Purépecha people of northern Michoacan and is believed to have medicinal qualities. Distant earthy notes are there beneath a honey sweetness and a touch of citrus zest.