Tecuán Mezcal Cupreata

Tecuan is a joven mezcal built from wild Cupreata agave, Agave cupreata, harvested in the state of Guerrero rather than Oaxaca, where the broad butterfly shaped leaves earn it the local name Papalote. The name Tecuan traces to the Nahuatl word for a jaguar native to Guerrero and Michoacan, the heartland of this species. Cupreata matures slowly over roughly ten to twelve years, which concentrates its fruit forward aromatics.
Pit roasting brings a very light smoke and the deep cooked agave base typical of the category, while the wild Cupreata fingerprint carries through as ripe yellow fruit, overripe mango, orange peel and linden flower. The palate is well rounded, with jammy citrus, a caramel and mint edge, white asparagus and a flicker of green pepper or mild chilli, closing on apricot, honey and thyme at 40.5 percent.