Rey Campero Sierra Negra Mezcal

Rey Campero Sierra Negra is a joven mezcal from the Southern Highlands of Oaxaca, made by maestro mezcalero Romulo Sanchez Parada at his palenque in Candelaria Yegole near Sola de Vega. Sierra Negra is a wild member of the Agave americana group, sometimes labelled Americana, that can take up to twenty five years to mature and is rarely used today, so this is a small and finite release.

The agave is pit roasted, fermented and double distilled in copper in the artesanal manner, then bottled undiluted at 49.2% to carry the species fingerprint. The result leads with slate, steely minerals and chalk over subtle aromatics, with ripe melon, corn husk, roasted serrano and charred vanilla pod on the palate and a cream edge. The finish is medium with firm mineral grip, savoury and earthy rather than sweet.