Distiller Notes
I’gok is typically used more for its fibers than for Mezcal; the first batch of Lagrimas de Dolores I’Gok was a happy accident as the magueyero brought it instead of the Castilla, but the resulting distillate was reason enough to bottle it as a standalone Mezcal. Has a woodsy quality on the palate with a savory finish, tied together with a light smoke from the oak used cooking the piñas.
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.