Mezcal
Description
Currently only 9 of Mexico's 32 states are allowed to produce. Oaxaca, Durango, Puebla, Guerrero, Michoacán, Zacatecas, San Luis Potosí, Tamaulipas, and Guanajuato. Upwards of 90% comes from Oaxaca, with Durango placing a distant second place, the remaming seven states contribute around 1% combined.
Categories
Industrial
Uses high tech equipment such as autoclaves and diffuses (for roasting), stainless steel fermentation vessels, and continuous column stills.
Artisanal
Limited to traditional and much more rudimentary processes. Roasting takes place only in pit ovens, while fermentation can take place in a range of vessels including wooden tanks, hollowed-out stone or tree trunks, and animal skins.
Ancestral
Forget fancy copper or stainless-steel stills, Mezcal Ancestral distillation exclusively uses clay pots brought to temperature by fire.
Agave
Before exploring the different agave varieties its important to consider that the production methods play a much more important role in the spirits final profile than the variety of agave used
Two producers could, for example use the exact same variety but end up with completely different flavors
Other factors that influence the final flavor profile include: the ambient yeast (that carry out fermentation), the conditions in which the agave plants grew, from soil type to altitude. Much like wine, the beauty of mezcal is the spirits ability to express Terroir
The agave genus contains some 200 species, of which 40-50 can be used for mezcal production (per CRM). These varieties are often referred to using non-scientific common names, which adds further complications.
In some instances, one variety may have a range of different common names across the country, while in others, different states may use the same common name but in reference to different varieties
400 Conejos
11
smoked pineapple, spices
Espadin
Agave de Cortes
11
lemongrass, damp earth
Espadin
Banhez
24
earthy and dark, subtle sweetness
Arroqueño
Banhez
35
lactose, wet stone, fermented fruit
Jabalí
Banhez
21
tropical fruit, acidic dryness
Cuishe
Banhez
23
smokey terrior, driven earthiness
Tepeztate
Banhez
29
lemon zest, iron, honeydew
Mexicano
Bruxo, No1 Espadin
14
prickly pear, red fruits
Espadin
Bruxo, No3
17
nutmeg, melon, cherries
Barril
Bruxo, No5
27
burnt peach, candied rock sugar
Tobala
Casamigos
18
black pepper, fruit, hint of smoke
Espadín
Catedral
25
sweet vanilla, pink grapefruit
Madre Cuishe
Catedral
26
toffee, burnt marshmellows
Tobala
Catedral
16
salty earth, oak tree
Espadin
Catedral
27
fresh green bananas, cut flowers
Mexicano
Cinco Sentidos
23
Cuishe
Cinco Sentidos
25
lemon zest, caramelized plantains
Arroqueño
Cinco Sentidos
22
Madrecuixe
Cinco Sentidos
21
anise, marzipan, aloe
Bicuixe
Cinco Sentidos
18
grassy, strawberries, grapefruit
Papalome
Cinco Sentidos
18
sweet herbs, orange rind
Jabali, Tobala
Cinco Sentidos
17
currants, dried stonefruit
Sierra Negra
Cinco Sentidos
21
caramel, toasted fennel, and brown butter
Tobala
Cinco Sentidos
16
sweet herbs, eucalyptus, starburst
Espadin
Cinco Sentidos
19
tart green apple, basil
Azul
Cinco Sentidos
19
strawberry shortcake, peppermint
Pizorra
Cinco Sentidos
17
herbal, candy apple
Sierra Negra
Cinco Sentidos
19
slight smoke, spearmint
De Horno
Cinco Sentidos - Tio Tello
24
Tobala
Clase Azul
34
Citrus, brown sugar, cloves
Cenizo
Convite
11
orange twist, soft smoke
Espadín
Cruz De Fuego
11
nectar, vanilla, minerality
Espadin
Del Maguey
19
wood fired florals & cinnamon
Tobala
Del Maguey
22
mineral driven, honey covered florals
Tobaziche
Del Maguey Chichicapa
13
toasted corn, almond, chocolate
Espadin
Del Maguey Las Milpas
14
citrus, lavender & pea shoots
Espadin
Del Maguey San Luis del Rio
17
roasted pineapple, mango, salinity
Espadin
Del Maguey Vida
11
tropical fruit, honey
Espadin
Del Maguey Vida Muertos
11
creamy tropical fruit, poblano peppers
Espadin
Derrumbes Durango
13
summer fruit, nuts, light smokiness
Durangensis
Derrumbes Guerrero
15
ripe vanilla bean, honeysuckle
Cupreata
Derrumbes Oaxaca
15
light smoke, minerality, fruit
Potatorum
Derrumbes San Luis Potosí
13
sweet, long with minerality, mint
Salmiana
Derrumbes Zacatecas
12
caramelized sugar & sweet grass
Azul
Domingo Guerrero
13
cantelope & sweet melon
Cupreata
Don Amado
21
quince, persimmon, lemon verbena
Arroqueño
Don Amado
20
soft smoke, candied mango
Largo
Don Amado
19
Earl Grey tea, dried orange peel
Tobala, Bicuishe
Don Amado
18
caramel, butterscotch, fresh herbs
Rustico
Don Mateo
17
sambuka, baking spice, pine
Cupreata
Dona Vega
12
perfume, spices, burnt orange
Espadin
Dos Hombres
16
zapote, green apple, wood
Espadin
El Jolgorio
16
creamy dessert, sweet chocolate
Espadin
El Jolgorio
20
bruléed fruit, grassy
Mexicano
El Jolgorio
21
cookie wafer, white chocolate
Tobala
El Jolgorio
19
grilled vegetables, toffee, apples
Cuishe
El Jolgorio
35
smoked salt, wet stone, elegant
Coyote Ancestral
El Jolgorio
18
wet soil, fresh vegetal sweetness
Barril
El Jolgorio
21
caramelized fig, apples, root vegetables
Madrecuixe
El Jolgorio
20
bright stone fruit, flowers, and strawberry
Tepeztate
El Mero
16
grapefruit pith, sarsaparilla
Tobala
El Mero
12
rock candy sugar, anise
Espadin
El Mero
15
honeycomb, serrano pepper
Tepextate
El Silencio, Espadin
11
earthy, robust smoke
Espadin
Erstwhile
25
cooked banana, marmalade
Tobala
Erstwhile
18
guanaba, rested in glass (3) years
Espadin Ancestral
Erstwhile
23
kiwi, herbacious, white pepper
Madre Cuishe
Erstwhile
16
black tea, caramelized banana
Espadin
Erstwhile
26
deep hickory smoke, granny smith
Tepeztate Ancestral
Gem & Bolt
16
herbacious, melon, lavender
Espadin con Damiana
Ilegal Anejo
16
maple, dark chocolate, bitter orange
Espadin
Ilegal Joven
11
green apple, fresh citrus, red chiltepe
Espadin
Ilegal Reposado
12
clove, butterscotch, vanilla
Espadin
Ixcateco
16
white peppercorn, anise, marzipan, aloe
Papalome
La Medida
16
nectar like, tropical, decadent
Bicuishe
La Medida
18
bitter chocolate, mint, pine
Arroqueño
La Medida
17
cantelope, sweet mint, acacia
Jabali
La Medida
26
green banana, jalapeño, bitter citrus
Tepeztate
La Medida
15
overripe pineapple, brown sugar, funky
Madrecuixe
La Medida
11
sappy fruit, pineapple, herbs
Espadin
Lalocura
26
cocoa, chicory, wet stone
San Martinero
Lalocura
29
grapefruit, clay, parsley
Cuishe
Lalocura
23
sour apple, hint of lime, brûlée
Tobala
Los Amantes Reposado
18
cinnamon, sandalwood
Espadin
Los Siete Misterios
16
avocado leaf, fresh hersb, citrus
Espadin
Los Siete Misterios
38
gingerbread, strawberry shortcake
Tobala
Los Siete Misterios
25
eucalyptus, maple, leather
Coyote
Los Siete Misterios
15
citrus, walnut, earthy minerality
Tepeztate
Los Siete Misterios
15
fresh grass, papaya, smoked wood
Mexicanito
Los Siete Misterios
15
honey, vanilla, tobacco
Cuishe
Los Siete Misterios Doba Yej
11
soft cook pinas, earthy clay
Espadin
Los Vecinos Del Campo
23
fruit punch, lemon zest
Tobala
Macurichos
18
leather, candied strawberry
Tobalá
Macurichos
22
lemon zest, pineapple skin
Arroqueño
Macurichos
13
dark chocolate, dulce de leche
Esapdin con Cacao
Madre, Espadin
11
oatmeal, cedar, chamomile, lemonade
Espadin
Maguey Malate, Erubiel
21
raspberries, cardamon pods
Papalometl
Maguey Malate, Felix
21
molasses, pecans, lemonade
Tobaziche
Maguey Malate, German
19
salt water taffy, tiger lily
Cuixe
Maguey Malate, Semei
20
grilled peach, spearmint
Barril
Maguey Malate, Semei
23
bubble gum, smoked cherry
Arroqueño
Maguey Malate, Semei
26
juicy fruit gum, cotton candy
Mexicano
Mal Bien
22
young carrots, snap peas
Madrecuixe
Mal Bien
18
frozen strawberries, mint, cucumber
Alto
Mal Bien
23
yogurt covered raisins, red grape
Tobaxiche
Mal Bien
21
poached pears, cashew fruit
Papalote, Maduro en Vidrio
Mal Bien
21
wildflower honey, vanilla
Arroqueño
Mal Bien
19
desert fowers, vanilla frosting
Papalote
Mal Bien
23
vanilla pudding, green mangos
Jabalí
Mal Bien
19
vanilla icing, white pepper
Tepeztate
Mal Bien
16
leather, caramelized banana
Espadin
Mezonte
34
strawberry, clay, caraway
Alto
Montelobos
16
citrus, basil, macadamia
Tobala
NETA
28
honey comb, delicate citrus peels
Azul Capón
NETA
18
grilled pineapple, powdered sugar
Espadin Capon
NETA
36
hibiscus, toasted elote
Arroqueño
NETA
28
juicy fruit, orange sorbet
Tobala
NETA
17
ripe pineapple, banana
Espadin
Noble Coyote
12
fresh thyme, anise
Espadin
Noble Coyote
22
eucalyptus, bacon fat
Jabali
Noble Coyote
17
White pepper, marzipan, vanilla
Coyote
Noble Coyote
14
dried tangerine, lemongrass
Capon Espadin
Noble Coyote
19
dried orange peel, earth, smoke
Tobala
Nuestra Soledad Lachigui Miahuatlán
11
cigar box, fresh cherries
Espadin
Nuestra Soledad San Luis Del Rio
11
bitter melon, coconut, kiwi
Espadin
Nuestra Soledad Santiago Matatlán
11
green peper, bright citric acidity
Espadin
Nuestra Soledad, La Compañía E jutla
11
cooked tropical fruits, pine wood
Espadin
Nuestra Soledad, San Baltazar Guel
11
sandal wood, mango
Espadin
Nuestra Soledad, Santa Maria Zoquitlán
11
lemon zest, red pepper
Espadin
OAX
26
bright citrus, complex, lavender
Tepeztate
OAX
18
coffee, butter, wood burning
Arroqueño
OAX
22
sweet flowers, herbs, almonds
Tobala
Origen Raiz
22
Madre Cuishe
Origen Raiz
19
Cenizo
Origen Raiz
18
Espadin
Pal'alma San Luis Potosí
21
mint, bell peppers, sweet pea
Salmiana
Real Minero
24
flowers, fresh melon
Largo
Real Minero
22
sage, pear skin
Espadin
Rey Campero
16
roasted apple, grilled mango
Madrecuixe
Rey Campero
16
mineral, vanilla beans, jalapeno
Tepeztate
Rey Campero
17
strawberies, lime zest
Tobala
Rey Campero
13
tobacco leaf, orchard fruit
Mexicano
Rey Campero
11
forest floor, corriander
Espadin
Rey Campero
15
chalk, tropical fruit, raw hide
Jabalí
The Lost Explorer 10yr
22
fresh grass, citrus, cocoa
Tobala
The Lost Explorer 10yr
24
mint, coriander, complex
Jabalí
The Lost Explorer 12yr
27
green chile, grapefruit
Salmiana
The Lost Explorer 8yr
12
red apple, ripe fruits, smoke
Espadin
Tosba
11
driftwood, pineapple, sugar cane
Espadin
Vago, Elote Garcia
16
roasted corn, mint, papaya
Esapdin con Elote
Vago, Espadin Barriga
15
pineapple, dark roast coffee
Espadin
Vago, Espadin Jarquin
15
graham crackers, roast pear
Espadin