Cuishe is one of the most unusual agaves in Oaxaca – a wild variety that grows vertically as a single stalk. This single-varietal mezcal from Bozal shows why the trouble of harvesting it is worth taking.

Expert Description

Bozal Mezcal Single Maguey Cuishe is a Mexican Joven Mezcal from Oaxaca, made from 100% wild Karwinskii agave and bottled at 47%.

Bozal Mezcal sources this Cuishe from the pueblo area of Zochitlan Rio Seco in Oaxaca. Cuishe is a subspecies of Agave karwinskii and one of the most physically distinct agaves used for mezcal – it grows vertically as a single stalk with its leaves clustered at the top, and its unusually firm pina makes the plant demanding to harvest and process. The agave is cooked in earthen pit ovens, crushed by a stone tahona wheel, and fermented in the open air with natural yeast before being double-distilled in copper pot stills.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Intense citrus with a touch of burnt orange and honeysuckle.

Palate

Notes of tropical fruit carried by a clear mineral character.

Finish

Dry, with a touch of pine and stone.

Specifications

Name: Bozal Mezcal Single Maguey Cuishe
Distillery: Bozal Mezcal
Region/Country: Oaxaca, Mexico
Type: Mexican Joven Mezcal, Single Maguey Cuishe (Agave Karwinskii)
ABV: 47%
Size: 70 CL
EAN no.: 8564420053908
Serving suggestion: Best enjoyed neat, at room temperature, in a small copita – try it with a slice of orange and a pinch of sal de gusano, as is traditional in Oaxaca.

Flavour Profile

Citrus · Mineral · Tropical · Dry

Did You Know?

Did you know that the Cuishe agave is so physically unusual that it grows vertically as a single stalk with its leaves clustered at the top – and that its unusually firm pina makes it one of the most demanding agaves to harvest and process anywhere in Oaxaca?

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On the steep, rocky cliffsides of Oaxaca grows the Tepeztate agave, with its erratic leaf pattern – one of the most demanding agaves to find. The reward is a mezcal with a powerful, floral character.

Expert Description

Bozal Mezcal Single Maguey Tepeztate is a Mexican Joven Mezcal from Oaxaca, made from 100% wild Marmorata agave and bottled at 49%.

Bozal Mezcal sources this Tepeztate from the pueblo area of Santa Ana del Rio in Oaxaca. Tepeztate is a subspecies of Agave marmorata, known for its distinctly erratic leaf structure, and the plant thrives best on steep, rocky cliffsides. Near the end of its life cycle, the agave sends up a tall flowering stalk, a quiote, which blooms a rich yellow before the plant sets seed and withers. The agave is cooked in earthen pit ovens, crushed by a stone tahona wheel, and fermented in the open air with natural yeast before being double-distilled in copper pot stills.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Herbaceous, with wet stone, grapefruit zest, orange blossom and pine.

Palate

Floral notes and white pepper, carried by a clear mineral character.

Finish

Spiced and lingering, with a touch of minerals.

Specifications

Name: Bozal Mezcal Single Maguey Tepeztate
Distillery: Bozal Mezcal
Region/Country: Oaxaca, Mexico
Type: Mexican Joven Mezcal, Single Maguey Tepeztate (Agave Marmorata)
ABV: 49%
Size: 70 CL
EAN no.: 856442005789
Serving suggestion: Best enjoyed neat, at room temperature, in a small copita – try it with a slice of orange and a pinch of sal de gusano, as is traditional in Oaxaca.

Flavour Profile

Floral · Mineral · Spiced · Herbaceous

Did You Know?

Did you know that before it dies, the Tepeztate agave sends up a tall flowering stalk, a quiote, which blooms a rich yellow before the plant sets seed and withers?

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Twelve to thirteen years is what it takes for the Tobasiche agave to mature in the wild. The patience pays off in a mezcal with a sweet nose of quince and anise, rounding off with an earthy, herbaceous finish.

Expert Description

Bozal Mezcal Single Maguey Tobasiche is a Mexican Joven Mezcal from Oaxaca, made from 100% wild Karwinskii agave and bottled at 47%.

Bozal Mezcal sources this Tobasiche from the pueblo area of Rio de Ejutla in Oaxaca. Tobasiche is a subspecies of Agave karwinskii and a wild agave that needs twelve to thirteen years to fully mature before it can be harvested. The agave is cooked in earthen pit ovens, crushed by a stone tahona wheel, and fermented in the open air with natural yeast before being double-distilled in copper pot stills.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Unconventionally sweet, with quince and anise and a touch of minerality.

Palate

Herbaceous and cedar-like, with a touch of citrus.

Finish

Long and earthy, with a dry, herbaceous finish.

Specifications

Name: Bozal Mezcal Single Maguey Tobasiche
Distillery: Bozal Mezcal
Region/Country: Oaxaca, Mexico
Type: Mexican Joven Mezcal, Single Maguey Tobasiche (Agave Karwinskii)
ABV: 47%
Size: 70 CL
EAN no.: 856442005406
Serving suggestion: Best enjoyed neat, at room temperature, in a small copita – try it with a slice of orange and a pinch of sal de gusano, as is traditional in Oaxaca.

Flavour Profile

Sweet · Herbaceous · Cedar · Earthy

Did You Know?

Did you know that the Tobasiche agave used for this mezcal has to grow wild for twelve to thirteen years before it is mature enough to be harvested?

See our whole range of Tequila & Mezcal

In the dry state of Zacatecas, the Espadín agave grows ready for distillation within a few years. Don Ramón's mezcal carries the land with it, all the way into the glass.

Expert Description

Casa Don Ramón Mezcal Espadín is a Mexican Joven Mezcal with an ABV of 40%. The mezcal is made from 100% Espadín agave grown in Zacatecas and carries a label design inspired by the traditional clay art of the indigenous peoples of the Oaxaca region. Casa Don Ramón is a Mexican brand producing both tequila and mezcal, and it plants two new agave plants for every one harvested.

As a joven mezcal, it is either completely unaged or rested only briefly, so the agave's clean, smoky character comes through clearly. Espadín is the most widely used agave variety for mezcal, partly because it matures faster than many of the other agave varieties used in the category.

Tasting Notes

Nose: Smoked citrus peel and charred herbs
Palate: Cooked agave, floral fruit and green pepper
Finish: Long, lingering smoke

Specifications

Name: Casa Don Ramón Mezcal Espadín Joven
Distillery: Casa Don Ramón
Region/Country: Zacatecas, Mexico
Type: Mexican Joven Mezcal
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 cl
EAN no.: 638478001382
Serving suggestion: Enjoy at room temperature in a small glass, ideally with orange slices sprinkled with salt

Flavour Profile

Smoke · Citrus · Herbs · Pepper

Did You Know?

Espadín is the most widely used agave variety for mezcal and can mature in as little as six to eight years, while several other varieties need far longer.

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The Salmiana agave spends a full decade maturing in the highlands of Zacatecas. Don Ramón's mezcal made from this rare variety tells a different story than the one you know from Espadín.

Expert Description

Casa Don Ramón Mezcal Salmiana is a Mexican Joven Mezcal with an ABV of 40%. The mezcal is made from 100% Salmiana agave, also known as maguey verde, grown in Zacatecas and taking up to ten years to mature before it can be harvested. Casa Don Ramón plants two new agave plants for every one harvested, and the label design is inspired by the traditional clay art of the indigenous peoples of the Oaxaca region.

Salmiana is a large, slow-growing agave that can grow far bigger than many other agave varieties used for mezcal. As a joven mezcal, it is either completely unaged or rested only briefly, giving a profile that differs clearly from the more earthy, vegetal character typically found in mezcal made from Espadín agave.

Tasting Notes

Nose: Floral notes, herbs and citrus
Palate: Sweetness, smoke and a subtle fruitiness
Finish: Long, smoky and lightly sweet

Specifications

Name: Casa Don Ramón Mezcal Salmiana Joven
Distillery: Casa Don Ramón
Region/Country: Zacatecas, Mexico
Type: Mexican Joven Mezcal
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 cl
EAN no.: 638478000859
Serving suggestion: Enjoy at room temperature in a small glass, ideally as part of a mezcal tasting

Flavour Profile

Floral · Smoke · Citrus · Fruit

Did You Know?

The Salmiana agave can grow noticeably larger than most other agave varieties used for mezcal and takes up to ten years to reach harvest.

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Smoke rising from earthen pits, the crunch of the tahona wheel, the heavy scent of roasted agave - Casamigos Mezcal Joven carries Oaxaca's craft with it in every drop.

Expert Description

Casamigos Mezcal Joven is a Mexican Joven Mezcal made from 100% agave, bottled at 40% ABV.

The mezcal is produced in Oaxaca by a family who have worked the craft for four generations. Espadín agave is slow-roasted in earthen pits, crushed the traditional way with a tahona wheel and twice-distilled in copper pot stills. Casamigos was founded in 2013, and the mezcal builds on the same philosophy of a few, carefully crafted expressions. It's unaged and crystal clear, as a true joven should be.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Fragrant herbs and fruit, with hints of tamarind and pomegranate alongside fresh mint, dried oregano and a whisper of smoke.

Palate

Rich, earthy agave with a subtle smokiness and black pepper.

Finish

Long and silky, with lingering smoke and pepper.

Specifications

Name: Casamigos Mezcal Joven
Distillery: Casamigos
Region/Country: Oaxaca, Mexico
Type: Mexican Joven Mezcal 100% Agave (Espadín)
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 cl
EAN no.: 858677006371
Serving suggestion: Best enjoyed neat at room temperature, or in a smoky mezcal margarita.

Flavour Profile

Agave · Smoke · Black Pepper · Tamarind

Did You Know?

Did you know Casamigos was founded in 2013 by actor George Clooney together with Rande Gerber and Mike Meldman, and that the brand was sold to Diageo in 2017 for up to $1 billion - one of the most talked-about deals in spirits industry history?

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By the Red Ant River in San Luis del Rio, Oaxaca, sits one of the palenques that, thirty years ago, helped introduce the word mezcal to an audience outside Mexico. Del Maguey Vida is where that story still begins for many drinkers today.

Expert Description

Del Maguey Mezcal Vida is a Mexican Single Village Mezcal at 42% ABV, made from 100% Agave Espadín in the village of San Luis del Rio, Oaxaca.

Del Maguey was founded in 1995 by American artist Ron Cooper, widely credited with sparking serious interest in high-quality mezcal outside Mexico. The Vida expression is crafted by palenquero Paciano Cruz Nolasco and designed as an entry point into Del Maguey's wider world of village-specific mezcals.

The mash is naturally fermented and twice distilled in wood-fired copper stills, after which the mezcal goes straight into the bottle with no cask ageing, preserving the agave's pure character.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Citrus and a light smoke, with a fruity aroma and a hint of honey.

Palate

Fine and cool on the palate, with notes of nuts and spices alongside vanilla and toasted tones.

Finish

Long and soft, with the smoke fading out quietly.

Specifications

Name: Del Maguey Mezcal Vida
Distillery: Del Maguey
Region/Country: San Luis del Rio, Oaxaca, Mexico
Type: Mexican Single Village Mezcal
ABV: 42%
Size: 70 cl
Serving suggestion: Enjoy neat with salt and lime, or shaken into a mezcal margarita

Flavour Profile

Citrus · Light smoke · Honey · Nuts

Did You Know?

Ron Cooper, the artist behind Del Maguey, spent years travelling through Oaxaca's villages before he began importing mezcal to the US in 1995 – an effort now widely regarded as one of the main reasons mezcal is known outside Mexico today.

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The journey begins in an earthen pit filled with glowing stones and black oak, where the agave slowly smokes to tenderness. Derrumbes Oaxaca is the first chapter of a brand that insists mezcal is bigger than any single place.

Expert Description

Derrumbes Oaxaca is a Mexican Joven Mezcal from Oaxaca, made from 70% Espadín and 30% Tobalá agave and bottled at 46.4%. The mezcal comes from Derrumbes, a distillery founded in 2012 by former chef Esteban Morales and tequila veteran Sergio Mendoza, who set out to showcase Mexican mezcal from more of the country's states than Oaxaca alone. The Oaxaca expression is produced by third-generation agave farmer and maestro mezcalero Javier Mateo and his family in the town of Santiago Matatlán, at the heart of Oaxaca's Central Valleys, where the region's greatest agave biodiversity is found. The agave is roasted in an underground stone pit with black oak, ground on a tahona, and wild-fermented with the help of pulque and water from the ancient Zapotec town of Mitla.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Light smoke meets citrus and ripe stone fruit, with a hint of minerality.

Palate

Round and full-bodied, with the smoke staying in the background and letting the fruit and minerality take over.

Finish

Softly rounded with a delicate, earthy sweetness.

Specifications

Name: Derrumbes Oaxaca Joven Mezcal
Distillery: Derrumbes
Region: Santiago Matatlán, Oaxaca, Mexico
Type: Joven Mexican Mezcal
ABV: 46.4%
Size: 70 cl
Bottles produced: 5,800
Natural colour: Yes, unaged
EAN no.: 7503018755007
Serving suggestion: Serve at room temperature in a small glass, neat and in small sips

Flavour Profile

Smoke · Citrus · Stone Fruit · Mineral

Did You Know?

The name Derrumbes means "landslides" in Spanish — an image of the raw, earthbound character the founders wanted to capture in mezcal from Mexico's many different agave terroirs.

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Since the 1940s, a small worm has rested at the bottom of this bottle – not as a gimmick, but as part of a Mexican tradition as genuine as the smoke from the earthen ovens.

Expert Description

Gusano Rojo Mezcal is a Mexican Mezcal made from 100% Espadín agave, bottled at 38%.

The mezcal is produced in Santiago Matatlán in Oaxaca, one of Mexico's most important mezcal regions, where the agave hearts are cooked in traditional earthen pit ovens over wood fire, giving the mezcal its characteristic smoky flavour. After cooking, it is double-distilled in copper pot stills. Gusano Rojo was one of the very first mezcal brands to place a gusano, the worm from the agave plant, inside the bottle – a tradition that, according to legend, began at the brand's bottling plant in the 1940s when an employee came up with the idea. In Oaxaca, the worm is traditionally regarded as a delicacy.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Smoky agave with earthy notes and a touch of citrus.

Palate

Smoky, grilled agave, balanced by citrus and herbaceous notes.

Finish

Long and mild, with a gentle agave sweetness and a last hint of smoke.

Specifications

Name: Gusano Rojo Mezcal
Distillery: Gusano Rojo Mezcal
Region/Country: Oaxaca, Mexico
Type: Mexican Mezcal, 100% Espadín Agave
ABV: 38%
Size: 70 CL
Serving suggestion: Best enjoyed neat in a small copita at room temperature, ideally with salt and orange slices on the side.

Flavour Profile

Smoky · Earthy · Citrus · Agave

Did You Know?

Did you know Gusano Rojo was one of the first mezcal brands to place a gusano inside the bottle – a tradition that, according to legend, began at the brand's bottling plant in the 1940s?

See our full range of Tequila & Mezcal

Agave Karwinskii grows tall and slender, almost like a small tree, quite unlike the round Espadín most people know. From that plant comes Cuishe – one of the more elegant, floral sides of Mezcal.

Expert Description

Hedonistas de la Fe Cuishe is a Mexican Mezcal from Oaxaca, made from 100% Agave Karwinskii and bottled at 46%. It comes from the same family-run palenque as Hedonistas de la Fe Tepeztate, run by maestro mezcalero Gerardo "Kaín" Santiago Hernandez in Santiago Matatlán. The agave is cooked in an underground earth oven, crushed on a stone tahona wheel and fermented with wild yeast in wooden vats before being double-distilled in copper alembic stills. This Cuishe is made from wild agave matured for 13-15 years, with production limited to 300 bottles.

Tasting Notes

Nose

White flower blossoms, chaparral scrub and a hint of smoke.

Palate

Soft and elegant, almost sake-like, with white pepper, florals, plum and dried fruit.

Finish

Long, nuanced and well-balanced, with a touch of mineral salinity.

Specifications

Name: Hedonistas de la Fe Cuishe
Distillery: Hedonistas de la Fe
Region — Country: Oaxaca — Mexico
Type: Mexican Mezcal
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
EAN no.: 1230000083225
Serving suggestion: Best enjoyed neat, at room temperature in a small glass, giving the floral notes room to show.

Flavour Profile

Floral · Elegant · Mineral · Fruity

Did You Know?

Agave Karwinskii, the plant behind Cuishe, does not grow like a typical agave with a round rosette of leaves – it shoots up as a tall, slender stalk that can look more like a small tree than a classic agave plant.

See our whole range of Tequila & Mezcal

Espadín is the agave the whole world of mezcal is built on – the one that grows across Oaxaca's valleys, and the one every mezcalero learns to understand before anything else. At the Santiago family's palenque in Matatlán, handling it is a craft refined over generations.

Expert Description

Hedonistas de la Fe Espadin is a Mexican Mezcal at 46% ABV, distilled from 100% Agave Angustifolia by the Santiago family in Matatlán, Oaxaca.

Unlike the wild Tobalá, Espadín is cultivated, though at Hedonistas de la Fe the agave is still hand-selected by trained jimadors, who let the plants mature for 6-8 years before harvest. This release is limited to 330 bottles in total.

The agave hearts are roasted over mesquite in a traditional earth oven, which gives the mezcal its smoky complexity. After roasting, the piñas are crushed with a tahona, and the mash ferments naturally in open wooden vats before being distilled twice in copper stills.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Brine and gentle smoke meet soft honey notes.

Palate

Layers of white pepper, grapefruit peel and tropical fruit unfold in a well-balanced, versatile mezcal.

Finish

Round and lightly spiced, with a finish that lingers pleasantly.

Specifications

Name: Hedonistas de la Fe Espadin
Distillery: Hedonistas de la Fe
Region/Country: Oaxaca, Mexico
Type: Mexican Mezcal
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 cl
EAN no.: 1230000083188
Serving suggestion: Enjoy neat at room temperature, or shake it into a Negroni, Margarita or Paloma

Flavour Profile

Smoky · Honey · Citrus · Spiced

Did You Know?

Nothing goes to waste at Hedonistas de la Fe: the agave leaves fuel the roasting fire, the spent tahona fibre goes back onto the fields as fertiliser, and new Espadín is continually replanted to secure future harvests.

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Agave Marmorata takes up to a quarter of a century to mature in the wild around Oaxaca – and once it is finally harvested, it becomes something hard to compare to anything else in the world of Mezcal. Tepeztate from Hedonistas de la Fe is one of the rarest, most complex expressions you will find.

Expert Description

Hedonistas de la Fe Tepeztate is a Mexican Mezcal from Oaxaca, made from 100% Agave Marmorata and bottled at 46%. Behind the bottle is maestro mezcalero Gerardo "Kaín" Santiago Hernandez, who runs a family palenque in Santiago Matatlán, where the agave is cooked in an underground earth oven, crushed on a stone tahona wheel and fermented with wild, airborne yeast in wooden vats before being double-distilled in copper alembic stills. This Tepeztate is made from wild agave matured for 20-22 years in the wild, with production limited to 160 bottles.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Eucalyptus, floral notes and light smoke, spiced with cinnamon and star anise.

Palate

Creamy and round, with notes reminiscent of Calvados alongside baking spices and a touch of peppermint.

Finish

Long, complex and constantly evolving in the glass.

Specifications

Name: Hedonistas de la Fe Tepeztate
Distillery: Hedonistas de la Fe
Region — Country: Oaxaca — Mexico
Type: Mexican Mezcal
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
EAN no.: 1230000083249
Serving suggestion: Best enjoyed neat, at room temperature in a small glass, letting the complex finish unfold fully.

Flavour Profile

Complex · Creamy · Floral · Smoky

Did You Know?

Agave Marmorata, the plant behind Tepeztate, grows wild in rocky terrain and takes up to 20-25 years to mature – making it one of the slowest-growing and rarest agaves used for Mezcal at all.

See our whole range of Tequila & Mezcal

In earthen pits high in the Oaxacan hills, agave hearts are roasted for up to a week before being crushed under a horse-drawn millstone. Ilegal Joven Mezcal carries that process into every glass – smoke, earth and sweetness, unaged and unfiltered.

Expert Description

Ilegal Joven Mezcal is a Mexican Joven Mezcal made from 100% Espadín agave and bottled at 40% alcohol. It is produced in Oaxaca by fourth-generation mezcaleros from the Hernández family, who harvest the agave by hand with machetes before roasting it in earthen pits lined with river stones for five to seven days over Encino oak fires. The agave is then crushed with a horse-drawn tahona, fermented naturally in pine vats, and distilled twice in copper stills.

Ilegal was founded in 2006 by American John Rexer, who originally brought unbranded mezcal from Oaxaca to his bar, Café No Sé, in Antigua, Guatemala – hence the name Ilegal, a nod to the early, unofficial trips across the border. Today the brand is one of the world's best-known mezcal names, though production still follows the same handcrafted methods.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Eucalyptus and mineral notes embrace green apple, fresh citrus and red chiltepe pepper.

Palate

Full-bodied agave flavour with a touch of smoke.

Finish

A lingering heat that stays on the palate long after the last sip.

Specifications

Name: Ilegal Joven Mezcal
Distillery: Ilegal Mezcal
Region: Oaxaca, Mexico
Type: Joven Mezcal 100% Espadín Agave
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 cl
EAN no.: 7438650493928
Serving suggestion: Enjoy neat or with salt and lime, or as the base for a Mezcal Margarita

Flavour Profile

Agave · Smoke · Citrus · Minerals

Did You Know?

Every bottle of Ilegal still reads "Originally produced for: Café No Sé, Mezcal Bar" – a nod to the days when the brand wasn't a commercial venture at all, just the house mezcal at John Rexer's bar in Guatemala.

See our full range of Tequila & Mezcal

There's a sweet smokiness to this Mezcal that calls to mind a late-night fireplace – with ripe fruit and a whisper of violets waiting behind it. This is what Oaxaca tastes like when the craft is given time.

Expert Description

Koch EL Mezcal Maguey Espadín is a Mexican Blanco Mezcal from Oaxaca, double-distilled in clay pots and bottled at 47%. The distillery behind the bottle is Koch El Mezcal, founded by Carlos Moreno, who revived his family's mezcal tradition in 2009 and today works with more than 52 mezcalero families across 18 communities in Oaxaca. This particular expression is handmade in Jayacatlán from Espadín agave matured for 7-9 years before it is harvested, cooked and distilled twice in traditional clay pots – a method that gives the Mezcal its distinctive, rounded character.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Sweet smoke reminiscent of a hearth fire, ripe fruit and a strong herbal backbone. Toward the end, hints of menthol, violets and a touch of pineapple emerge.

Palate

Persistent cooked pineapple meets coconut, rose and freshly cut herbs. Midway through, ripe peach and cinnamon appear alongside a touch of white pepper.

Finish

A delicate, almost sherry-like sweetness lingers long after each sip.

Specifications

Name: Koch EL Mezcal Maguey Espadín
Distillery: Koch EL Mezcal
Region — Country: Oaxaca — Mexico
Type: Mexican Mezcal
ABV: 47%
Size: 70 CL
EAN no.: 7503021076014
Serving suggestion: Best enjoyed at room temperature in a small glass or copita, letting the sweet smoky notes open up.

Flavour Profile

Smoky · Fruity · Herbal · Floral

Did You Know?

While most Mezcal distilleries today use copper stills, Koch El Mezcal distils this Espadín in traditional clay pots – an age-old method that demands far more skill, but one many mezcaleros believe produces a softer, rounder spirit.

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This Mezcal comes from wild agave that spent twelve years growing free before it was brought back to Río de Ejutla and fired in a copper still. The result is herbal, mineral, and more than a little wild.

Expert Description

Koch EL Mezcal Maguey Tobasiche is a Mexican Blanco Mezcal Artesanal from Oaxaca, double-distilled in a copper alembic still with a rectifying plate and bottled at 47.13%. It comes from the same distillery as Koch EL Mezcal Maguey Espadín – founded by Carlos Moreno and built around a network of more than 52 mezcalero families across 18 communities in Oaxaca. This expression is handmade in Río de Ejutla from wild Tobasiche agave, which takes around 12 years to mature in the wild before it is harvested, cooked and distilled twice.

Tasting Notes

Nose

A strong herbal and mineral aroma with a touch of white pepper, wet riverstone, ginseng and cashew nut, finishing with a light spicy note of roasted dried chili.

Palate

Medium-bodied, with herbal spices like ginseng and clove alongside strong notes of cooked sweet potato, sweet onion and radish.

Finish

A light touch of orange peel fades into a finish of toasted chestnuts.

Specifications

Name: Koch EL Mezcal Maguey Tobasiche
Distillery: Koch EL Mezcal
Region — Country: Oaxaca — Mexico
Type: Mexican Mezcal
ABV: 47.13%
Size: 70 CL
EAN no.: 7503021076106
Serving suggestion: Serve at room temperature in a small glass, letting the mineral and herbal notes come through.

Flavour Profile

Herbal · Mineral · Spicy · Wild

Did You Know?

Tobasiche is a wild agave that is not grown in rows like Espadín, but foraged in the wild once it reaches maturity after around twelve years – making it considerably scarcer than most other agave varieties used for Mezcal.

See our whole range of Tequila & Mezcal

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

In Mexican folklore, a tiger's eye is a symbol of luck, believed to protect whoever carries it. Ojo de Tigre borrows that name for a mezcal that blends two agaves from two different corners of the country into one bottle.

Expert Description

Ojo de Tigre Joven is a Mexican Joven Mezcal at 37% ABV, produced by Casa Ausencio León in Tlacolula de Matamoros, Oaxaca.

"Joven" means young, and describes mezcal that has not rested in a cask. Ojo de Tigre Joven is built on two sustainably grown agaves: the alluring Espadín from Oaxaca's lush valleys and the rarer Tobalá from the mountains of Puebla. The brand was created in collaboration with Mexican actor and producer Luis Gerardo Méndez.

The agave hearts are roasted underground in stone-lined pits, milled with a traditional tahona, and naturally fermented before the mash is double-distilled in copper alembic stills.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Fresh citrus notes of apple and green pear, followed by cooked agave, caramel and a touch of toasted cacao.

Palate

Sweet at the start, with cooked agave sweetness, herbal notes and gentle smoke that give way to citrus fruit and a fresh hint of cucumber.

Finish

Soft and refreshing, with a trace of the gentle smoke lingering.

Specifications

Name: Ojo de Tigre Joven
Distillery: Ojo de Tigre
Region/Country: Oaxaca & Puebla, Mexico
Type: Mexican Joven Mezcal
ABV: 37%
Size: 70 cl
EAN no.: 7503018819846
Serving suggestion: Enjoy neat with a slice of fresh pineapple and a little salt, or in fresh citrus cocktails

Flavour Profile

Citrus · Cooked agave · Gentle smoke · Sweetness

Did You Know?

The name Ojo de Tigre comes from the tiger's-eye gemstone, which according to Mexican folklore brings luck and protection to whoever carries it.

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A few months in an oak cask is enough to give a clear mezcal a golden hue and a whole new layer of flavour, without drowning the agave's character. That balance is what Ojo de Tigre Reposado is built around.

Expert Description

Ojo de Tigre Reposado is a Mexican Reposado Mezcal at 37% ABV, produced by Casa Ausencio León in Tlacolula de Matamoros, Oaxaca.

The mezcal is built on the same two agaves as the Joven expression: Espadín from Oaxaca and the rarer Tobalá from the mountains of Puebla, both sustainably grown. The brand was created in collaboration with Mexican actor and producer Luis Gerardo Méndez, and the name is taken from the tiger's-eye gemstone.

After distillation, the mezcal rests for 4-6 months in oak casks, where it takes on colour and notes of nuts, caramel and vanilla before being bottled.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Vanilla and cooked agave from the cask, with a touch of gentle smoke in the background.

Palate

Nuts, caramel and vanilla play together with subtle smoke, cooked agave and herbal notes.

Finish

Soft and lightly herbal, with a warm close from the cask ageing.

Specifications

Name: Ojo de Tigre Reposado
Distillery: Ojo de Tigre
Region/Country: Oaxaca & Puebla, Mexico
Type: Mexican Reposado Mezcal
ABV: 37%
Size: 70 cl
Cask type: Oak cask, 4-6 months
EAN no.: 7503027709213
Serving suggestion: Enjoy neat at room temperature in a small glass, ideally to close out a meal

Flavour Profile

Nuts · Caramel · Vanilla · Gentle smoke

Did You Know?

Ojo de Tigre is made by Casa Ausencio León, which has produced mezcal in Tlacolula de Matamoros since 1890 – over a century of the same craftsmanship, long before mezcal became an internationally known spirit.

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The same agave hearts that give Topanito's tequilas their character also yield something entirely different – a smooth, natural syrup with no distillation involved.

Expert Description

Topanito Agave Syrup is a pure agave syrup made from blue Weber agave grown in the highlands of Jalisco, Mexico.

The syrup comes from the same brand as Topanito's tequilas, produced under the Casa Maestri distillery in the town of Tequila. The agave juice is extracted from the same piñas (agave hearts) otherwise used for tequila production, but instead of fermenting and distilling it, the juice is slowly reduced into a soft, honey-like syrup with no alcohol.

The flavour is round and naturally sweet with a touch of caramel, and the syrup dissolves easily in both cold and hot drinks.

Specifications

Name: Topanito Agave Syrup
Producer: Topanito
Region/Country: Jalisco, Mexico
Type: Agave Syrup, Food Accompaniment
Size: 25 CL
Serving suggestion: Use in cocktails such as a Margarita or Paloma, in tea, or as a substitute for sugar and honey in baking.

Flavour Profile

Agave · Caramel · Round · Naturally Sweet

Did You Know?

Did you know Topanito Agave Syrup is made from the very same agave hearts that Topanito's tequilas are distilled from – just without fermentation or distillation?

Some mezcals get diluted after distillation. This one doesn't. It goes straight from the copper alembic to the bottle, carrying the full power the agave gave it.

Expert Description

Topanito Mezcal Espadín Blanco Cask Strength is a 100% Espadín Mexican Mezcal Artesanal bottled at 52%.

Unlike whisky, mezcal is typically not aged in wooden casks, so the strength here refers to the mezcal being bottled directly at distillation strength without being diluted to the more common level - not to barrel ageing. It is the stronger of Topanito's two Espadín mezcals, created by the German spirits house Perola, which founded Topanito in 2011. Production takes place with the mezcaleros at the Amantes de lo Ajeno distillery in San Dionisio Ocotepec, Oaxaca, where Espadín agaves of at least seven years of age are hand-harvested, roasted in coal-filled earthen pits and crushed on a traditional stone mill called a tahona, before fermenting and being double distilled in copper alembic stills.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Roasted agave and smoke at high intensity, joined by rosemary, grilled peppers and a touch of pastry.

Palate

Rich and spicy with chilli and rosemary, noticeably more intense than the 40% expression, yet built on the same roasted agave core.

Finish

Long, dry and smoky, with a tingling peppery sensation.

Specifications

Name: Topanito Mezcal Espadín Blanco Cask Strength
Distillery: Topanito
Region/Country: Oaxaca, Mexico
Type: 100% Espadín Mexican Mezcal Artesanal
ABV: 52%
Size: 70 CL
Natural colour: Yes
Serving suggestion: Best enjoyed neat or with a few drops of water, but also works in bold mezcal cocktails.

Flavour Profile

Roasted Agave · Rosemary · Chilli · Smoke

Did You Know?

Did you know that Topanito Mezcal Espadín Blanco Cask Strength is bottled straight at distillation strength with no added water, giving you the agave's full, undiluted intensity?

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In the hills around San Dionisio Ocotepec, agave hearts are still roasted in earthen pits the way they have been for generations. From that process rises Topanito's first mezcal - raw, pure and true to the craft.

Expert Description

Topanito Mezcal Espadín Blanco is a 100% Espadín Mexican Mezcal Artesanal bottled at 40%.

The mezcal is created by the German spirits house Perola, which founded Topanito in 2011 to make authentic, handcrafted mezcal and tequila accessible to a wider audience. Production takes place with the mezcaleros at the Amantes de lo Ajeno distillery in San Dionisio Ocotepec, Oaxaca, where Espadín agaves of at least seven years of age are hand-harvested and their hearts roasted in coal-filled earthen pits for several days. They are then crushed on a traditional stone mill called a tahona, before fermenting and being double distilled in copper alembic stills.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Citrus, pomelo and thyme, underpinned by a subtle smokiness and an earthy backbone.

Palate

Roasted agave at the centre, carried by fresh notes of pomelo and lemon in a complex, well-balanced interplay.

Finish

Smooth and medium-length, with a lingering trace of smoke.

Specifications

Name: Topanito Mezcal Espadín Blanco
Distillery: Topanito
Region/Country: Oaxaca, Mexico
Type: 100% Espadín Mexican Mezcal Artesanal
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Natural colour: Yes
Serving suggestion: Best enjoyed neat or on the rocks, but also works well in mezcal-based cocktails.

Flavour Profile

Citrus · Roasted Agave · Smoke · Thyme

Did You Know?

Did you know that the name Topanito comes from the Aztec word "Topan", meaning the home of the gods, so agave spirit was regarded as a gift from above?

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On hot, low-lying slopes in Oaxaca grows an agave that can set seed for entire families of new plants. Mexicans call it Madre - the mother. This bottle tells its story through aroma and taste.

Expert Description

Topanito Mezcal Madre Cuishe Blanco is a 100% Madre Cuishe Mexican Mezcal Artesanal bottled at 49%.

The mezcal is part of Topanito's Wild Series, in which the German spirits house Perola highlights rare, wild-growing agave varieties. Madre Cuishe belongs to the Karwinskii agave family and typically grows in the hot lowland zone known as tierra caliente, where the mineral-rich soil shapes its character. The agave is harvested after 12-15 years and processed by mezcaleros at the Amantes de lo Ajeno distillery in San Dionisio Ocotepec, Oaxaca, where the agave hearts are roasted in earthen pits, crushed on a traditional tahona stone mill and double distilled in copper alembic stills.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Mild and earthy, with a light minerality and a touch of ripe mango.

Palate

Green pepper and a touch of salt, rounded out by umami notes of olive and parmesan.

Finish

Mild and earthy, with a lingering close.

Specifications

Name: Topanito Mezcal Madre Cuishe Blanco
Distillery: Topanito
Region/Country: Oaxaca, Mexico
Type: 100% Madre Cuishe Mexican Mezcal Artesanal
ABV: 49%
Size: 70 CL
Natural colour: Yes
Serving suggestion: Best enjoyed neat, ideally alongside Mexican food.

Flavour Profile

Mango · Green Pepper · Olive · Minerality

Did You Know?

Did you know that Madre Cuishe means "mother agave" in Spanish, because the plant can set seed that develops into several other agave varieties, including Agave Verde, Coyote and Tobalá?

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On steep rocky cliffs in Oaxaca grows an agave so slow to mature it barely fits within a human lifetime. When it is finally harvested, that long wait echoes in every glass.

Expert Description

Topanito Mezcal Tepeztate Blanco is a 100% Tepeztate Mexican Mezcal Artesanal bottled at 49%.

The mezcal is part of Topanito's Wild Series, in which the German spirits house Perola highlights rare, wild-growing agave varieties. Tepeztate belongs to the Marmorata agave family, named for its characteristic marbling, and can take up to 30-35 years to mature on steep hillsides and rocky cliffs, often surrounded by wild herbs. The agave has a low sugar content, meaning far more raw agave is needed per litre of mezcal than for, say, Espadín. The agave hearts are processed by mezcaleros at the Amantes de lo Ajeno distillery in San Dionisio Ocotepec, Oaxaca, roasted in earthen pits, crushed on a tahona stone mill and double distilled in copper alembic stills.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Green and fruity with green mango, green chilli, kiwi and cucumber.

Palate

Creamy texture with passion fruit, lime and a spicy lift of cayenne pepper.

Finish

Light and pleasantly spicy, with a lingering chilli warmth.

Specifications

Name: Topanito Mezcal Tepeztate Blanco
Distillery: Topanito
Region/Country: Oaxaca, Mexico
Type: 100% Tepeztate Mexican Mezcal Artesanal
ABV: 49%
Size: 70 CL
Natural colour: Yes
Serving suggestion: Best enjoyed neat, but also works as a fresh, funky base in agave drinks.

Flavour Profile

Green Mango · Kiwi · Passion Fruit · Cayenne Pepper

Did You Know?

Did you know that it takes up to 60-180 kilos of roasted agave to produce just one litre of Tepeztate mezcal, while Espadín mezcal needs only 10-20 kilos?

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High in the mountains of Oaxaca grows a tiny agave that never sends up shoots - only seed. That makes it both endlessly slow and endlessly sought after among mezcaleros.

Expert Description

Topanito Mezcal Tobalá Blanco is a 100% Tobalá Mexican Mezcal Artesanal bottled at 49%.

The mezcal is part of Topanito's Wild Series, in which the German spirits house Perola highlights rare, wild-growing agave varieties. Tobalá is a comparatively small agave that grows at higher elevations and matures over 12-15 years. Unlike most other agave varieties, Tobalá produces no offshoots and can only propagate from seed, which, combined with the large number of plants needed per litre of mezcal, has made it increasingly rare. The agave hearts are processed by mezcaleros at the Amantes de lo Ajeno distillery in San Dionisio Ocotepec, Oaxaca, roasted in earthen pits, crushed on a tahona stone mill and double distilled in copper alembic stills.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Ripe red and blue berries, fresh mint, tobacco, coffee and smoke.

Palate

Fruit-forward with blackcurrant and blackberry, slowly giving way to dark chocolate.

Finish

Long and velvety, with echoes of tobacco and coffee.

Specifications

Name: Topanito Mezcal Tobalá Blanco
Distillery: Topanito
Region/Country: Oaxaca, Mexico
Type: 100% Tobalá Mexican Mezcal Artesanal
ABV: 49%
Size: 70 CL
Natural colour: Yes
Serving suggestion: Best enjoyed neat, or as the base of a berry-forward Oaxaca Old Fashioned.

Flavour Profile

Red Berries · Mint · Tobacco · Dark Chocolate

Did You Know?

Did you know that the Tobalá agave cannot propagate through offshoots like most other agave varieties, but only grows from seed, making it one of the rarest agaves used for mezcal?

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The Aztecs called the home of their gods Topan, and saw tequila as a gift from heaven – an idea Topanito still carries in every bottle.

Expert Description

Topanito Tequila Añejo is a Mexican Añejo Tequila made from 100% agave, bottled at 40%.

Topanito is produced at Destiladora del Valle de Tequila in the town of Tequila, Jalisco – better known as Casa Maestri, one of Mexico's most awarded distilleries. The brand was created to make genuine 100% agave tequila accessible at a fair price for the hospitality trade, without cutting corners on quality. The Añejo expression rests for at least 12 months in oak barrels, where the raw, young tequila picks up the warmth and sweetness of the wood.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Baked agave, caramel and a touch of vanilla.

Palate

Creamy and round, with caramel, lightly toasted oak and a deep, earthy agave sweetness.

Finish

Long and warm, with a last touch of vanilla.

Specifications

Name: Topanito Tequila Añejo
Distillery: Topanito (Casa Maestri)
Region/Country: Jalisco, Mexico
Type: Mexican Añejo Tequila 100% Agave
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Oak barrels
Serving suggestion: Best enjoyed neat in a tequila glass, or as a lift in a Tommy's Margarita.

Flavour Profile

Caramel · Vanilla · Baked Agave · Toasted Oak

Did You Know?

Did you know Topanito is produced at the Casa Maestri distillery in the town of Tequila, regarded as one of the most awarded tequila distilleries in all of Mexico?

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In the heart of Jalisco, where blue Weber agave grows in volcanic soil, the young, wild spirit meets the calm of oak – the result is Topanito Reposado.

Expert Description

Topanito Tequila Reposado is a Mexican Reposado Tequila made from 100% agave, bottled at 40%.

Topanito is produced at Destiladora del Valle de Tequila in the town of Tequila, Jalisco – better known as Casa Maestri, one of Mexico's most awarded distilleries. The Reposado expression rests for at least six months in American white oak barrels, where the raw, young tequila is softened by the wood's warm, honeyed tones.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Forest honey, vanilla and earthy, roasted agave.

Palate

Round and warm, with vanilla, caramel and a light touch of pepper.

Finish

Mild and long, with a last note of honeyed sweetness.

Specifications

Name: Topanito Tequila Reposado
Distillery: Topanito (Casa Maestri)
Region/Country: Jalisco, Mexico
Type: Mexican Reposado Tequila 100% Agave
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: American white oak, at least 6 months
Serving suggestion: Best enjoyed neat, or as the base of a Tommy's Margarita.

Flavour Profile

Honey · Vanilla · Roasted Agave · Oak

Did You Know?

Did you know Topanito was created to make genuine 100% agave tequila accessible at a fair price for the hospitality trade, without cutting corners on quality?

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