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
smoked pineapple, spices
Espadin
Agave de Cortes
lemongrass, damp earth
Espadin
Banhez
earthy and dark, subtle sweetness
Arroqueño
Banhez
lactose, wet stone, fermented fruit
Jabalí
Banhez
tropical fruit, acidic dryness
Cuishe
Banhez
smokey terrior, driven earthiness
Tepeztate
Banhez
lemon zest, iron, honeydew
Mexicano
Bruxo, No1 Espadin
prickly pear, red fruits
Espadin
Bruxo, No3
nutmeg, melon, cherries
Barril
Bruxo, No5
burnt peach, candied rock sugar
Tobala
Casamigos
black pepper, fruit, hint of smoke
Espadín
Catedral
sweet vanilla, pink grapefruit
Madre Cuishe
Catedral
toffee, burnt marshmellows
Tobala
Catedral
salty earth, oak tree
Espadin
Catedral
fresh green bananas, cut flowers
Mexicano
Cinco Sentidos
Cuishe
Cinco Sentidos
lemon zest, caramelized plantains
Arroqueño
Cinco Sentidos
Madrecuixe
Cinco Sentidos
anise, marzipan, aloe
Bicuixe
Cinco Sentidos
grassy, strawberries, grapefruit
Papalome
Cinco Sentidos
sweet herbs, orange rind
Jabali, Tobala
Cinco Sentidos
currants, dried stonefruit
Sierra Negra
Cinco Sentidos
caramel, toasted fennel, and brown butter
Tobala
Cinco Sentidos
sweet herbs, eucalyptus, starburst
Espadin
Cinco Sentidos
tart green apple, basil
Azul
Cinco Sentidos
strawberry shortcake, peppermint
Pizorra
Cinco Sentidos
herbal, candy apple
Sierra Negra
Cinco Sentidos
slight smoke, spearmint
De Horno
Cinco Sentidos - Tio Tello
Tobala
Clase Azul
Citrus, brown sugar, cloves
Cenizo
Convite
orange twist, soft smoke
Espadín
Cruz De Fuego
nectar, vanilla, minerality
Espadin
Del Maguey
wood fired florals & cinnamon
Tobala
Del Maguey
mineral driven, honey covered florals
Tobaziche
Del Maguey Chichicapa
toasted corn, almond, chocolate
Espadin
Del Maguey Las Milpas
citrus, lavender & pea shoots
Espadin
Del Maguey San Luis del Rio
roasted pineapple, mango, salinity
Espadin
Del Maguey Vida
tropical fruit, honey
Espadin
Del Maguey Vida Muertos
creamy tropical fruit, poblano peppers
Espadin
Derrumbes Durango
summer fruit, nuts, light smokiness
Durangensis
Derrumbes Guerrero
ripe vanilla bean, honeysuckle
Cupreata
Derrumbes Oaxaca
light smoke, minerality, fruit
Potatorum
Derrumbes San Luis Potosí
sweet, long with minerality, mint
Salmiana
Derrumbes Zacatecas
caramelized sugar & sweet grass
Azul
Domingo Guerrero
cantelope & sweet melon
Cupreata
Don Amado
quince, persimmon, lemon verbena
Arroqueño
Don Amado
soft smoke, candied mango
Largo
Don Amado
Earl Grey tea, dried orange peel
Tobala, Bicuishe
Don Amado
caramel, butterscotch, fresh herbs
Rustico
Don Mateo
sambuka, baking spice, pine
Cupreata
Dona Vega
perfume, spices, burnt orange
Espadin
Dos Hombres
zapote, green apple, wood
Espadin
El Jolgorio
creamy dessert, sweet chocolate
Espadin
El Jolgorio
bruléed fruit, grassy
Mexicano
El Jolgorio
cookie wafer, white chocolate
Tobala
El Jolgorio
grilled vegetables, toffee, apples
Cuishe
El Jolgorio
smoked salt, wet stone, elegant
Coyote Ancestral
El Jolgorio
wet soil, fresh vegetal sweetness
Barril
El Jolgorio
caramelized fig, apples, root vegetables
Madrecuixe
El Jolgorio
bright stone fruit, flowers, and strawberry
Tepeztate
El Mero
grapefruit pith, sarsaparilla
Tobala
El Mero
rock candy sugar, anise
Espadin
El Mero
honeycomb, serrano pepper
Tepextate
El Silencio, Espadin
earthy, robust smoke
Espadin
Erstwhile
cooked banana, marmalade
Tobala
Erstwhile
guanaba, rested in glass (3) years
Espadin Ancestral
Erstwhile
kiwi, herbacious, white pepper
Madre Cuishe
Erstwhile
black tea, caramelized banana
Espadin
Erstwhile
deep hickory smoke, granny smith
Tepeztate Ancestral
Gem & Bolt
herbacious, melon, lavender
Espadin con Damiana
Ilegal Anejo
maple, dark chocolate, bitter orange
Espadin
Ilegal Joven
green apple, fresh citrus, red chiltepe
Espadin
Ilegal Reposado
clove, butterscotch, vanilla
Espadin
Ixcateco
white peppercorn, anise, marzipan, aloe
Papalome
La Medida
nectar like, tropical, decadent
Bicuishe
La Medida
bitter chocolate, mint, pine
Arroqueño
La Medida
cantelope, sweet mint, acacia
Jabali
La Medida
green banana, jalapeño, bitter citrus
Tepeztate
La Medida
overripe pineapple, brown sugar, funky
Madrecuixe
La Medida
sappy fruit, pineapple, herbs
Espadin
Lalocura
cocoa, chicory, wet stone
San Martinero
Lalocura
grapefruit, clay, parsley
Cuishe
Lalocura
sour apple, hint of lime, brûlée
Tobala
Los Amantes Reposado
cinnamon, sandalwood
Espadin
Los Siete Misterios
avocado leaf, fresh hersb, citrus
Espadin
Los Siete Misterios
gingerbread, strawberry shortcake
Tobala
Los Siete Misterios
eucalyptus, maple, leather
Coyote
Los Siete Misterios
citrus, walnut, earthy minerality
Tepeztate
Los Siete Misterios
fresh grass, papaya, smoked wood
Mexicanito
Los Siete Misterios
honey, vanilla, tobacco
Cuishe
Los Siete Misterios Doba Yej
soft cook pinas, earthy clay
Espadin
Los Vecinos Del Campo
fruit punch, lemon zest
Tobala
Macurichos
leather, candied strawberry
Tobalá
Macurichos
lemon zest, pineapple skin
Arroqueño
Macurichos
dark chocolate, dulce de leche
Esapdin con Cacao
Madre, Espadin
oatmeal, cedar, chamomile, lemonade
Espadin
Maguey Malate, Erubiel
raspberries, cardamon pods
Papalometl
Maguey Malate, Felix
molasses, pecans, lemonade
Tobaziche
Maguey Malate, German
salt water taffy, tiger lily
Cuixe
Maguey Malate, Semei
grilled peach, spearmint
Barril
Maguey Malate, Semei
bubble gum, smoked cherry
Arroqueño
Maguey Malate, Semei
juicy fruit gum, cotton candy
Mexicano
Mal Bien
young carrots, snap peas
Madrecuixe
Mal Bien
frozen strawberries, mint, cucumber
Alto
Mal Bien
yogurt covered raisins, red grape
Tobaxiche
Mal Bien
poached pears, cashew fruit
Papalote, Maduro en Vidrio
Mal Bien
wildflower honey, vanilla
Arroqueño
Mal Bien
desert fowers, vanilla frosting
Papalote
Mal Bien
vanilla pudding, green mangos
Jabalí
Mal Bien
vanilla icing, white pepper
Tepeztate
Mal Bien
leather, caramelized banana
Espadin
Mezonte
strawberry, clay, caraway
Alto
Montelobos
citrus, basil, macadamia
Tobala
NETA
honey comb, delicate citrus peels
Azul Capón
NETA
grilled pineapple, powdered sugar
Espadin Capon
NETA
hibiscus, toasted elote
Arroqueño
NETA
juicy fruit, orange sorbet
Tobala
NETA
ripe pineapple, banana
Espadin
Noble Coyote
fresh thyme, anise
Espadin
Noble Coyote
eucalyptus, bacon fat
Jabali
Noble Coyote
White pepper, marzipan, vanilla
Coyote
Noble Coyote
dried tangerine, lemongrass
Capon Espadin
Noble Coyote
dried orange peel, earth, smoke
Tobala
Nuestra Soledad Lachigui Miahuatlán
cigar box, fresh cherries
Espadin
Nuestra Soledad San Luis Del Rio
bitter melon, coconut, kiwi
Espadin
Nuestra Soledad Santiago Matatlán
green peper, bright citric acidity
Espadin
Nuestra Soledad, La Compañía E jutla
cooked tropical fruits, pine wood
Espadin
Nuestra Soledad, San Baltazar Guel
sandal wood, mango
Espadin
Nuestra Soledad, Santa Maria Zoquitlán
lemon zest, red pepper
Espadin
OAX
bright citrus, complex, lavender
Tepeztate
OAX
coffee, butter, wood burning
Arroqueño
OAX
sweet flowers, herbs, almonds
Tobala
Origen Raiz
Madre Cuishe
Origen Raiz
Cenizo
Origen Raiz
Espadin
Pal'alma San Luis Potosí
mint, bell peppers, sweet pea
Salmiana
Real Minero
flowers, fresh melon
Largo
Real Minero
sage, pear skin
Espadin
Rey Campero
roasted apple, grilled mango
Madrecuixe
Rey Campero
mineral, vanilla beans, jalapeno
Tepeztate
Rey Campero
strawberies, lime zest
Tobala
Rey Campero
tobacco leaf, orchard fruit
Mexicano
Rey Campero
forest floor, corriander
Espadin
Rey Campero
chalk, tropical fruit, raw hide
Jabalí
The Lost Explorer 10yr
fresh grass, citrus, cocoa
Tobala
The Lost Explorer 10yr
mint, coriander, complex
Jabalí
The Lost Explorer 12yr
green chile, grapefruit
Salmiana
The Lost Explorer 8yr
red apple, ripe fruits, smoke
Espadin
Tosba
driftwood, pineapple, sugar cane
Espadin
Vago, Elote Garcia
roasted corn, mint, papaya
Esapdin con Elote
Vago, Espadin Barriga
pineapple, dark roast coffee
Espadin
Vago, Espadin Jarquin
graham crackers, roast pear
Espadin