Reviews / Pal'alma Sonora

Review · · by The Editors

Pal'alma Sonora

Sonora lechuguilla – one of the most underrepresented agaves in the category, at reference quality

Score: 5.0/5 agaves

Pal'alma Sonora bottle
  • Producer: Pal'alma
  • Maestro: Fidel Lagarda Burgos
  • Region: Milpillas, Sonora
  • Agave: Bovicornuta
  • ABV: 45%
  • Price: $70 ($)

Verdict

Sonora is not on most drinkers' mezcal map, which is exactly what makes this bottle important. Lechuguilla in the hands of a producer who understands desert agave is one of the most distinctive experiences the category offers, and Palalma delivers it at the top of the house's range. Buy when you find it, and don't expect to find it often.

This is the bottle that rewrites your mental map of where mezcal comes from

Tasting notes

Nose: Desert flowers with limestone, white pepper, a savory undertone

Palate: 45-50% of lechuguilla from Sonora – arid-climate agave distilled with Palalma's characteristic restraint. Tastes like where it came from, not what it was made into

Finish: Dry, mineral, quietly floral – very long

The bottom line

Don't pass. Among the rarest bottles worth chasing

Where to buy online

We found this bottle at 1 US retailer. Prices and stock vary – click through to check.

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