Ancestral, Ensamble ¿, Spirit distilled of agave, Mexico (49.8%, 70cl)

MAESTRAS DE MEXICO

Artesanal focuses on preserving ancestral technemes and the contribution of women to the sensory and cultural identity of mezcal.

They exclusively support independent female micro-producers distilling fewer than 1,000 liters a year, protecting ecosystem and agave diversity.

Their first EU collection spans two years of unhurried curation from three Maestras across Guerrero and Oaxaca. Each batch personifies its author and locality, helping sustain their craft, dignity and way of life in small rural communities.

Zacatoro, Papalote - Guerrero

Ancestral Ensamble Endemico Destilado de Agave Tradicional is an inaugural ancestral agave spirit produced in El Calvario, high in the rugged mountains of Guerrero, Mexico. Crafted by distiller and researcher Amairany Carrasco Lopez alongside fourth generation master distiller José Toribio, this single batch expression highlights a field blend of wild Zacatoro (Agave angustifolia var. rubescens) and Papalote (Agave cupreata), including natural hybrids whose botanical identities invite the inverted question mark on the label.

The production process bridges academic fieldwork with traditional ancestral craft. The agaves are pit roasted with water to minimize harsh smoke influence before being crushed manually by hand. Spontaneous fermentation occurs in native wooden vats using wild airborne yeasts. Distillation is carried out twice in traditional Filipino clay pot stills, preserving the spirit's delicate aromatic compounds and yielding a distillate aligned with the local gusto histórico. Bottled at a strength of 49.8% ABV in a 70cl format, it is unaged and free from artificial additives or chill filtration.

The profile is deeply earthy, viscous, and complex, balancing sweet roasted agave notes with grounding minerals and resinous botanicals. The nose opens with aromas of roasted agave, rustic wet hay, raw honey, ripe stone fruit, and caramelized green vegetation. On the palate, a rich, oily mouthfeel delivers toasted hazelnut, tree bark, and aromatic copal resin over a dense foundation of wet clay and minerals. The finish is long, elegant, and persistent, leaving lingering impressions of sweet maguey fibers and wet stone.