Mezcalosfera Mezcal Ensamble

Mezcalosfera is the export project of the Mezcaloteca tasting room in Oaxaca City, bottling tiny lots from individual makers. This joven ensamble was made by Job Cortés from five species, Verde, Bicuishe, Madrecuixe, Coyote and Espadín, with the karwinskii forms bringing dry green minerality and Coyote adding floral fruit over the espadín backbone.

The agave was pit roasted over mesquite and encino oak, which lays in the roasted, lightly smoky base, then fermented and distilled. The notable point is the single distillation rather than the usual two passes, which leaves the spirit fuller and more raw on the nose and palate, a heavier, more textural reading of these five magueyes. Just sixty litres were made, bottled unaged at 49%.