Palenque Tepextate Baltazar Cruz Gomez

70 cl / 48.5°

Category: Agave Distillate

Why it’s different

From the Palenque Project, this craft agave distillate made from Maguey Tepextate comes from San Luis del Rio, Tlacolula, Oaxaca, and is produced by Baltazar Cruz, a first-generation Palenquero known for his entrepreneurial skills.

San Luis del Rio is a village where a considerable amount of mezcal has been produced for over ten years. Soils are particularly suited to the cultivation of different agave varieties, including Espadín, Sierra negra, Tepextate, Mexicano, Coyote and Mexicanito.

Aromatic notes: At first it is very mineral and brings out the salt, with a hint of acidity associated with chemical notes. Gradually, tones of dried seeds and nuts emerge; with time in the glass, herbaceous and vegetal notes emerge.

Tasting notes: The savoury note, with a strong peppery, almost chilli-like tip, comes through, reminiscent of a stew. Notes of onion, salt and burnt caramel, with a long bitter aftertaste of cinnamon and ginger.

Curiosities

The Palenque project is the brainchild of Luca Gargano, who involved six agave distillate producers from various villages in the state of Oaxaca and project coordinator Hector Vazquez. The Maestros Palenqueros aim to draw a detailed map of Oaxaca's terroir, the diversity of agave species and the natural conditions that give the agave a wealth of information during its long growing process. These producers operate with an artisanal approach, some introducing modern changes at various stages of production, always paying attention to the quality of the soil, the agave and the production process, based on their personal recipe.