Del Maguey San Luis del Rio Mezcal Stitzel Weller

This is a special 2014 bottling from Del Maguey, the single village house founded in 1995 by artist Ron Cooper, distilled in San Luis del Rio in Oaxaca from Espadin. Only 1530 bottles were made. What sets it apart is the maturation: it rested for 124 days, around four months, in twenty year old Stitzel-Weller wheated bourbon barrels from the legendary and now closed Kentucky distillery, making this a reposado.

Del Maguey is made by individual family palenqueros in the traditional way, pit roasted over hot stones for a sweet, smoky character. Here the roast shows as well cooked agave with red and green pepper and a hint of smoky bacon and citrus blossom, while the barrel brings white pepper, creamy caramel and a touch of floral vanilla. It stays smoky and faintly vegetal beneath the oak, finishing on smoked meat and sharp apple at 47%.