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Produced and Bottled in Oaxaca, Mexico
• Importer •
Del Maguey, Ltd. Co.
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As I mentioned on the "Mexico Spirits" starting page I should probably have a section devoted specifically to mezcal. Depending on how things go, I fully expect to have a "Mezcal Tour" at PocoTequila in the future. This site began as a result of my obsession with tequila and the truth is there is just "Too much Tequila and Too little Time". Nevertheless it is also impossible to have a fascination with tequila and not become somewhat enamored with mezcal as well. While tequila is made exclusively with one particular species of agave, mezcal can be made from a number of different varieties. I will be the first one to admit that my experience in tasting mezcal has been very limited and therefore I may have the tendency to compare it to tequila. However mezcal should be tasted and appreciated for it's own unique qualities.
Pictured above is a bottle of Del Maguey "Chichicapa" mezcal. As with the other "Single Village Mezcal" products the mezcal has been named for the village where it was produced in the Mexican State of Oaxaca. Last November ( 2001 ) I had the opportunity to meet Mr. Ron Cooper, the founder and manager of Del Maguey at The 2nd Annual New Mexico International Tequila Experience in Albuquerque. He presented a wonderful slide show on how these mezcals are produced in Oaxaca, from the moment the maguey is harvested to the point where the mezcal is bottled and sealed with a natural bees wax. Mr. Cooper was available for discussion afterwards and not only is he well versed about his obvious passion of his mezcal but he was extremely knowledgeable about the tequila industry and it's well documented problems. It was also here at the Tequila Experience that I was able to sample several varieties of the "Single Village" mezcals. Including the rare and more expensive Tobala, which is made from a wild mountain variety of maguey of the same name. These Single Village Mezcals, each with their own unique characteristics embody all of the things that drew me to tequila in the first place. And then some. The smoky flavor of the maguey is prominent in each one with an earthy quality that is natural, unmistakable and wonderful. Del Maguey is proud of the fact that they do not use any chemicals or additives. Each mezcal is distilled twice and rested briefly in stainless steel tanks. After using only water and the cooked hearts of the maguey along with time consuming and traditional production methods to create this mezcal it would definitely be a shame to rest the spirit in wooden barrels and introduce additional and foreign flavors. The result for the drinker is a pure and true mezcal experience. You can learn more about Del Maguey - Single Village Mezcal as well as get recipes and more links to buy their products at the official Del Maguey web site: http://www.mezcal.com |
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