Rey Campero Madre Cuishe Mezcal

Rey Campero is the house of maestro mezcalero Rómulo Sánchez Parada in Candelaria Yegolé, a small town in the southern highlands of the Sola de Vega district of Oaxaca. The name means king of the countryside, and Rómulo learned the work from his father before founding the brand. This release uses Madrecuixe, one of the wild forms of the Agave karwinskii complex, known for its dry mineral and herbaceous character.

The agave is fermented in the open air using natural ambient yeasts and then distilled in copper, which keeps the spirit relatively gentle. Source notes describe pine, citrus fruit, herbal and mulch tones on the nose, then sweetened citrus, lemon, tart mango, lemongrass and candied ginger across the palate, closing on white pepper, capsicum and a leathery edge. Bottled at 48.9%, the proof carries the karwinskii minerality forward.