Alma Libre Mezcal Mexicano

Alma Libre draws this joven from the wild Mexicano agave, Agave rhodacantha, locally known in Zapotec as Dobadaan, made by maestro Efraín Hernández in Santiago Matatlán, Oaxaca. Mexicano is a wild, slow growing maguey with several local subforms, each pushing the mezcal in a slightly different direction, which gives single agave bottlings like this real individuality.

Production follows the artesanal pattern of the central valleys. The piñas are roasted four to seven days in an underground pit, milled with a horse drawn tahona, fermented in the open air with natural yeast and double distilled in copper. The pit cook lends a clear smoky note, here framed as smoky chilli, over the agave's vegetal, herbal and savoury character with a citrus lift. Bottled undiluted at 47.2%, it carries the texture and intensity that high proof joven mezcal is meant to show.