On a field north of Copenhagen grows something that looks like the recipe for mezcal, minus the agave. Parforce Spirits borrowed the same hands-on approach as the Mexican distilleries and rebuilt it as a purely Danish spirit.
Expert Description
Maexiko Montezuma is a Danish, agave-free spirit inspired by mezcal, distilled from smoked corn and sea buckthorn and bottled at 43%.
Behind the bottle is the young Danish spirits house Parforce Spirits, based in Skodsborg. Since agave simply can't grow in Denmark, the team went looking for a local stand-in instead, and found it in sea buckthorn, which is botanically related to the agave plant. The smoked corn delivers the same earthy, lightly smoky character you'd recognise from mezcal, while the sea buckthorn adds a tart, berry-like sweetness. The spirit is bottled clear and unaged, much like a mezcal joven.
Tasting Notes
Nose
Light smoke and toasted corn, carried by a tart sea buckthorn aroma.
Palate
Earthy and lightly smoky, with a fresh, tart sweetness from the sea buckthorn.
Finish
Short and clean, with a last trace of smoke and berries.
Specifications
Name: Maexiko Montezuma
Distillery: Parforce Spirits
Region/Country: Skodsborg, Denmark
Type: Danish Agave-Free Spirit, Mezcal-Inspired
ABV: 43%
Size: 35 CL
Serving suggestion: Enjoy neat or in cocktails that usually call for mezcal or tequila.
Flavour Profile
Smoky · Earthy · Tart · Berry-like
Did You Know?
Did you know the agave plant is botanically part of the asparagus family? That's part of why Parforce Spirits could build a mezcal-inspired flavour without any agave at all, using smoked corn and Danish sea buckthorn instead.
See our full range of Parforce Spirits