Distiller Notes
The story of 400 Conejos begins with a native Mesoamerican religious tradition that allowed only priests to establish a channel of communication with the gods. To achieve it, they practiced ritual drinking of beverages made from agave. Such drinks were exclusively for religious ceremonies and for the spiritual elite.
The gods of the drinks were collectively called centzon-totchtin (400 rabbits) in Nahuatl. The number 400 was synonymous with “innumerable” and “uncountable”. It is believed that the spirit of the 400 rabbits carries on to this day in each bottle of this fine mezcal.
Mezcal Joven or “young” is bottled within two months of distillation without barrel aging and will appear clear, like a Vodka or Gin. Longer barrel aging, with the principal aim to soften and round a spirit’s flavor profile, is often most prized by connoisseurs. However, many die-hard Mezcal enthusiasts insist that oak takes away from the purity of the agave flavors—ranging from earthy and smoky to sweet and floral, often in the same Mezcal—and that Mezcal Joven is the best expression.