Honduras — Erwin “Wingo” Mierisch, La Casona, Finca Santa Lucia Geisha (Washed)

Tastes Like — 🍋 Lime • 🌸 Jasmine • 🍈 Rambutan

DETAILS

• Producer: Erwin “Wingo” Mierisch, Fincas Mierisch
• Farm: La Casona, Finca Santa Lucia
• Region: Comayagua, Honduras
• Varietal: Geisha
• Process: Classic Washed
• Altitude: 1,550 MASL
• Size: 100g

INTRO

La Casona is the other plot within Finca Santa Lucia, owned by Apollon’s Gold’s long-term partner Fincas Mierisch. It is one of the most storied competition lots in Central America — the La Casona plot is the specific lot that took first place at the Honduras Cup of Excellence in 2019 with a remarkable 94.84 points, and the Santa Lucia Geisha (a blend of La Casona and the adjacent El Triangulo plot) went on to win COE #1 again in 2021.

Whilst this has long been Apollon’s Gold’s favourite coffee from Wingo, this particular harvest may be the most vibrant La Casona they have yet received. Expect juicy lime, vibrant jasmine florals, and a sweet rambutan finish.

THE PRODUCER

Fincas Mierisch is one of the most consistently awarded coffee operations in Central America. The Mierisch family produces coffee across fourteen farms in Nicaragua and Honduras, with their Santa Lucia plots in Comayagua, Honduras representing the absolute pinnacle of their output. Wingo Mierisch has been a direct partner and close friend of Apollon’s Gold since 2017, and the relationship between the two has grown into one of the most significant long-term direct trade partnerships in the specialty coffee world.

Their commitment to cultivar integrity, careful processing, and high-altitude cultivation has made their Geisha lots among the most sought-after in global competition coffee. The La Casona and El Triangulo plots sit side by side within Finca Santa Lucia, each expressing a distinct character despite their proximity — La Casona delivering the elegance and citrus clarity that defines the best classic washed Geisha.

THE PROCESS

The Classic Washed process at La Casona involves:

• 🍒 Selective Harvesting — Ripe Geisha cherries picked by hand at peak development
• 🔧 Pulping — Mechanical removal of the cherry skin shortly after picking
• 💧 Fermentation — Parchment fermented in tanks to break down the remaining mucilage
• 💧 Washing — Thorough washing in clean water channels to achieve full clarity
• ☀️ Raised Bed Drying — Parchment dried slowly on raised beds under careful monitoring
• ✅ Quality Control — Rigorous sorting at every stage to maintain lot integrity

The result is a brilliantly transparent cup — clean and precise, allowing the inherent character of the Geisha varietal and the Comayagua terroir to express themselves fully and without interference.

THE CUP

La Casona is vibrant and refined in equal measure. Juicy lime acidity opens the cup with brightness and precision, giving way to intense jasmine florals on the mid-palate. The finish is soft and sweet, with a lingering rambutan character that speaks directly to the Geisha varietal’s inherent tropical complexity.

Flavour Notes

• 🍋 Lime
• 🌸 Jasmine
• 🍈 Rambutan