About Del Maguey Barril Mezcal
Del Maguey, Single Village Mezcal was founded in 1995 by Ron Cooper, who wanted to introduce the world to previously unavailable artisanal mezcal produced the original handcrafted way. Through deep relationships with indigenous producers in Oaxaca and Puebla, Mexico, Del Maguey protects and preserves the ancient production processes that have been passed down for generations. These traditional methods, combined with the diverse micro-climates and terroir of Mexico, give each creation its own unique, rich, sweet and smoky character that celebrates the art of each family producer. Every product in the brand’s range is made by individual family palenques. The brand has been part of the portfolio of the international spirits company Pernod Ricard since 2017.
Expressions in the Del Maguey, Vino de Mezcal Series are hand selected by the founder, Ron Cooper. They are produced in very limited quantities from select wild and cultivated varietals. Before the notion of mezcal or tequila as spirits categories, agave based spirits from anywhere in Mexico were traditionally referred to as vino de mezcal. The first mention of tequila as a beverage is in the town of Tequila’s tax record of 1873, which contains an entry showing that three barrels of mezcal wine from the region of Tequila were sent to Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Barril is a special edition mezcal from Del Maguey’s Vino De Mezcal series, produced by the talented eighty-year old master palenquero Florencio, “Don Lencho” Laureano Carlos Sarmiento. It is made from semi-wild maguey Barril, which is the biggest, fattest maguey of the Tobasiche, Madrecuishe, Cirial, Larga family. The magueys are roasted in a conical pit over hot rocks, covered with earth for three days, fermented with nothing but airborne microbes for thirty days, and then twice distilled very slowly in a traditional clay still with bamboo tubing.
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About Del Maguey
The Del Maguey Single Village Mezcal Project was founded in 1995 by Ronald Cooper, an internationally renown artist and mezcalero. The project aims to identify and support independent mezcal producers in Mexico, who are bound by a common love for the land. "Through deep cultural relationships with Zapotec Mexican Indian producers in the remote villages of Oaxaca, Del Maguey harnesses ancient, original organic processes," says Cooper. Each mezcal belonging to the project is sourced from a unique region in Oaxaca's Central Valley and represents a singularly exquisite expression of the village's terrior.
Del Maguey Vida Mezcal is crafted from estate-grown agave, which are nearly a decade old and harvested by expert farmers with a special knife called a coa. Once the agave have been harvested, the heart of the plant, or piña, is removed and cooked for several days in a large, earthen pit lined with hot stones. This process caramelizes the piñas natural sugars, and gives the piñas a slightly smoky aroma and flavor profile. Then, the piñas are crushed and fermented, before the remaining pulp is twice distilled through a small, wood-fired, riverside copper pot still. Following distillation, the mezcal is bottled at 84 proof.
About Mezcal
Mezcal is a distilled spirit made from roasted agave plants between two days and two weeks, which gives it a distinct smokey flavor.
What scotch is for whisk(e)y, mezcal is for tequila.
It can be made from different types of agave in different parts of Mexico, but most of it (60%) comes from the state of Oaxaca. Mezcal offers a large diversity of flavor profiles and ranges between 40 and 55% ABV.
Check out our impressive selection of mezcals, and find your new favorite in the Top 10 mezcal & tequilas, or explore The best gifts for mezcal and tequila drinkers.
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