Lagrimas del Valle Plata Tequila El Chiqueno 2022
Lagrimas del Valle Plata Tequila El Chiqueno 2022 is the unaged twin of the brand's celebrated reposado — a vintage "Rancho Unico" plata distilled entirely from agave harvested in 2022 on the single El Chiqueño ranch near Amatitán. Made at NOM 1123 (Tequila Cascahuin) by Master Distiller Salvador "Chava" Rosales Trejo and bottled unaged at 46% ABV (92 proof) in 750mL, it earned 91 points and a Gold Medal from Best Tasting Spirits. Pure ranch character, nothing else. It's available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
- ABV: 46% (92 proof)
- Size: 750mL
- Vintage: 2022 — single-ranch harvest, El Chiqueño (second vintage after Palo Verde)
- Age: unaged plata — no barrel rest
- Origin: NOM 1123, Tequila Cascahuin, El Arenal, Jalisco — Tequila Valley/Los Valles
- Agave: 100% Blue Weber; ~32 brix; 1,260m elevation
- Production: masonry steam ovens; 70% roller mill / 30% stone tahona; double distilled in stainless pot stills with copper coil
- Rating: 91 points, Gold Medal — Best Tasting Spirits
El Chiqueño, Unadorned
Where the reposado shows what three months of ex-bourbon does to El Chiqueño agave, the plata shows the ranch itself — no oak, no filter, just the 2022 harvest at a full 92 proof. The production is identical: four-day masonry-oven cooking, the 70/30 roller-mill/tahona split, separate fermentations, double distillation in stainless pot stills with copper coil, deep well water. Reviewers keep coming back to the same words — cooked agave, minerals, citrus — and the Agave Matchmaker community rates it among Cascahuin's finest blancos. Explore more tequila, browse blanco tequilas, or see the Lagrimas del Valle range at Del Mesa.
Tasting Notes
Per Best Tasting Spirits (91 points, Gold Medal): cooked agave, olive and citrus on the nose, opening to earthy agave and mint; sweet citrus and cooked agave building to a tropical-fruit peak; a finish of lemon, olive, saline, mineral, vanilla and black pepper.
How to Enjoy
Neat — this is a connoisseur's plata, and 92 proof carries it beautifully. For cocktails, it makes a Margarita with uncommon depth, or a crystal-clear Ranch Water.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between the Plata and Reposado El Chiqueno?
The same 2022 single-ranch agave and distillation — the plata is bottled unaged, while the reposado rests 3 months in ex-bourbon barrels.
Has it won awards?
Yes — 91 points and a Gold Medal from Best Tasting Spirits.
What does "Rancho Unico" mean?
"Single ranch" — each Lagrimas del Valle vintage comes from one ranch's harvest, like a single-vineyard wine.
The ranch, the year, nothing else — order Lagrimas del Valle Plata Tequila El Chiqueno 2022 online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.