Oro de Oaxaca Mezcal Artesanal

Oro de Oaxaca is made by Casa Mezcal Oro de Oaxaca, a family house in Santiago Matatlan distilling since 1940. This artesanal joven is built on Espadin, Agave angustifolia harvested at around eight years, and arrives con gusano, with an agave larva in the bottle and a sachet of sal de gusano, the toasted ground worm, chilli and salt seasoning served alongside.

The piñas roast for 72 hours in a conical underground oven lined with volcanic rock, where they take on earth, fire and smoke as the heat converts the agave's sugars. A horse drawn stone tahona crushes the cooked hearts, the must ferments naturally for at least six days in oak tanks, and the spirit is twice distilled to 40%. Expect caramelised agave woven with herbs, citrus, a hint of pepper and pleasant smoke, finishing long and faintly sweet. The worm is a commercial bottling custom, not a quality marker.