Explorer Series

December Explorer Series — Guatemala El Socorro Red Bourbon

Straight from the verdant hills of Palencia, Guatemala, this month’s Explorer Series release highlights the Red Bourbon lot from the famed El Socorro farm (owned by Juan & Juan Diego de la Cerda). Nestled at high altitudes between 5,050 and 6,100 ft (1,540–1,860 masl), this estate has been a consistent Cup of Excellence contender and is Rainforest Alliance certified.

The cup opens with a burst of natural sweetness — syrupy and fruit-forward — that carries through every sip. Notes of red apple and jammy berries bring a bright, juicy liveliness, while soft undertones of malt and dark chocolate add depth and warmth. The texture is smooth and rounded, full-bodied yet never heavy — a beautifully layered experience that’s both comforting and complex.

• Region: Palencia
  
• Varietal: Red Bourbon
• Process: Washed
• Altitude: 1,540-1,860 meters

Tasting Notes:
Sweet, syrupy fruit with bright red apple and jammy berries, rounded by gentle malt and dark chocolate. Smooth, balanced, and quietly complex.