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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

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