Distiller Notes
For generations in Oaxaca, ensambles (or blends) have been the most common way to enjoy mezcal made from wild varieties of agave. It is also an opportunity to experience the complexity of those increasingly rare species by expanding the yield they can offer by codistilling more widely available Espadín agave. The Angeles family at Real Minero regularly release unique ensambles, here highlighting the Barril variety of Agave Karwinskii for which their region is famous.
Proof: 106.14
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.