TEQUILANA CAPÓN | WILFRIDO GARCÍA SÁNCHEZ | MAY 2024 | TEQWGS2405 | 47.5% ALC. | 366 BOTTLES | PM SPIRITS
Familiar to agave-spirit drinkers around the world, Blue Weber Tequilana has been present in Miahuatlán for nearly 40 years, a result of longstanding commercial relationships between Oaxaca and Tequila, Jalisco. Most of these agaves—and the plants propagated from them—have historically been sold to intermediaries and producers in Jalisco. Some palenqueros in Miahuatlán, however, have incorporated Tequilana into their own productions and continue to cultivate small quantities in their fields.
Distilled Tequilana offers a particularly revealing lens through which to understand the influence of place and production. In this batch, the familiar character of the agave remains discernible, yet its expression is unmistakably rooted in Logoche. The spirit provides a compelling illustration of how the region’s terruño—its soils, climate, water, microorganisms, and inherited production practices—shapes even a widely recognized variety of agave.
On a stretch of red and black earth between Logoche and Miahuatlán, Wilfrido and Ramón’s uncle Eduardo has cultivated carefully tended, naturally fertilized agave for decades. Until the disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, nearly all of his Tequilana was contractually destined for Jalisco, where the agaves disappeared into anonymous spirits and agave-syrup production.
When that commercial relationship came to an end, Wilfrido and Ramón sought to support their tío by purchasing the remaining agaves as they matured. Following the success of several earlier productions, Wilfrido continued working with Eduardo’s agave through the final harvest of the crop, culminating in this batch distilled in May 2024.
After roasting, maceration, and an extended fermentation, Wilfrido distilled the agave over low heat. He composed the finished spirit from heads, hearts, and tails, making careful adjustments until it displayed an aromatic bouquet and a pronounced cordón cerrado at 47.5% ABV. Bottled for release in fall 2026, all 366 bottles are available exclusively in the United States through PM Spirits.
Maguey(es): Tequilana capón (Agave tequilana)
Provenance of the maguey: Cultivated by Wilfrido’s uncle Eduardo on a parcel between Logoche and Miahuatlán
Producer: Wilfrido García Sánchez
Region: Logoche, Miahuatlán, Oaxaca
Soil type: Red and black earth; tierra roja and tierra negra
Rest time after harvest: Five days
Oven: Conical earthen pit; roasted for six days with mesquite wood
Rest time after roasting: Six days
Maceration: Machete and mechanical shredder
Fermentation: Native yeasts; approximately 700 kilograms of cooked agave and 400 liters of well water in each of three Montezuma cypress (sabino) vats
Dry fermentation: 48–72 hours
Wet fermentation: 19–20 days
Distillation: Twice distilled in copper pot stills
Final composition: Heads, hearts, and tails
Batch size: 280 liters
Date of distillation: May 2024
ABV: 47.5%