Review: Tears of Llorona
Tears of Llorona is an Extra Anejo Tequila created by Master Distiller Germán González Gorrochotegui. Germán is the son of Guillermo Gonzalez Diaz Lombardo, creator of Chinaco Tequila, one of the first premium Tequilas imported into the United States. As a young adult, Germán worked closely with his father at the family distillery, La Gonzaleña, to learn how to craft Tequila, and would eventually serve as Chinaco’s Master Distiller before leaving the company to launch his own brand, T1 Tequila, and later, Tears of Llorona.
Germán created the very first bottle of Tears for his personal enjoyment. After sharing his special reserve with a close group of friends, he was encouraged to release a limited supply for others to enjoy. Germán named his creation after a legend told to him by his father, La Llorona, and began distributing to select U.S. markets in 2014.
The story of La Llorona, “The One Who Cries,” is one of faith and faithlessness, passionate love, and shocking loss.
While the tale’s origin has been lost over time and many versions exist across Central and South America, all feature a beautiful young woman scorned to madness by her unfaithful husband. Legend has it that she wanders Mexico’s landscapes crying bitter tears of regret.
The process of creating Tears of Llorona starts with 100% Weber Blue Agave grown in the volcanic slopes of the Mexican highlands for at least 8 years. Germán personally inspects each plant before harvesting and then slow-roasts the piñas in a low pressure autoclave for over 20 hours. This process achieves the greatest conversion of sugars possible without losing the flavors of the volcanic soil.
The resulting wort is fermented using a proprietary yeast and the fermented mosto, or must, is double distilled in traditional copper pot stills and aged in three types of oak barrels — Scotch, Sherry, and Brandy — for five years, before being blended by Germán and bottled at 43% ABV.
Tears of Llorona Specifications:
- NOM: 1146.
- Spirit: Tequila.
- Classification: Extra Añejo.
- Region: Jalisco, Mexico.
- Age: 5 Years Old.
- ABV: 43% (86 Proof).
- Cask Type: Matured in Scotch, Sherry, and Brandy oak barrels.
- Other: Additive Free.
- Price Paid: N/A (Sample from Tears of Llorona).
- MSRP: $279.99 for 750 mL.
Tasting Notes:
- Color: Dark Rosé.
- Nose: Slightly earthy, with aromas of truffle, baking spices, grapes, a hint of citrus, cooked agave, honey, vanilla, and oak.
- Palate: The earthy quality from the nose is also present on the palate, which exhibits notes of truffle, cinnamon, nutmeg, red grapes, dried apricot, a hint of orange rind, cooked agave, honey, butterscotch, caramel, vanilla, and oak.
- Finish: Long and drying, with baking spices, black pepper, vanilla, and oak taking center stage while fruit, agave, and honey notes take a back seat.
When I first took an interest in Tequila, I was primarily drinking Anejos and Extra Anejos. I had approached the spirit as a whisky drinker, and moving from one barrel aged spirit to another was an easy transition to make. Over time, I began to better appreciate the flavors of the agave itself, and today, I tend to gravitate towards Blancos and Reposados.
After taking my first sip of Tears of Llorona, I was pleasantly surprised to find that it had managed to retain a fair amount of agave character. Make no mistake, Tears is primarily a barrel driven experience, but Master Distiller Germán González Gorrochotegui has done an excellent job with his barrel management and blending to ensure that the agave character wasn’t completely lost after aging in Scotch, Sherry, and Brandy barrels for five years.
Yes, it’s expensive, but if you’re looking for a premium bottle of Tequila to celebrate a special occasion, you won’t be disappointed with Tears of Llorona.
Rating: A- (90–92%).