Leonista Reposado Agave Spirit

Leonista Reposado is an agave spirit from South Africa rather than Mexico, made in the Karoo region from a local agave related to the Mexican Americana and Arroqueno group. The plant grows for around twelve years in the South African sun before it carries enough sugar to distil. The agave and the production are organically certified, and only South African raw materials are used, so it sits closer to a reposado tequila with a smoky edge than to a playful mezcal.
The spirit is rested in former brandy casks, a short maturation that brings a sweet, woody influence. The nose runs to coffee, vegetal and earthy notes, wet soil, damp wood and resin. The palate is mineral with a soft fruit sweetness, mild apricot and plum, then spice, black pepper and chilli. It finishes smoky and earthy with a clear bitter edge and a note of caraway, bottled at 43%.