Danzantes "Los Nahuales" Reposado Mezcal 750ml

Thanks to Ron Cooper of Del Maguey, this incredible Mezcal was found in the grand Oaxacan landscape! The Los Danzantes folks distill with loving care, traditional methods, intelligent innovation, and they make each batch exactly right. Forget those bottles with the worm - well-made mezcal is a world-class spirit. Jamie Munoz (he and his brother own restaurants in Oaxaca and Mexico City) wanted to serve authentic mezcal, so he restored an artisan distillery in Santiago Matatlan, at 6,000 feet in Oaxaca state, the heart of mezcal country. Los Danzantes mezcal is made in old double-distillation pot stills, from the agave espadin. Small-village mezcaleros still transport the piñas, the trimmed hearts of the slow-growing agave plant, on burros. The piñas are slow-roasted in a stone fire-pit, converting carbohydrates to fructose. After roasting, the agaves are crushed in a stone mill. At this point, a tequila producer would separate the liquids, discarding the deeply flavored agave pulp. Mezcal fermentation and distillation include all the agave fibers and meat, yielding a product with richer flavor. Distillation is two passes through small pot stills. Based on the agave Espadin, the genetic mother of tequila’s agave Weber. Distillates from the Espadin are full-flavored and sweet. The Danzantes roasting pit is fired with mesquite, creating deep smoky richness. The French oak used for the reposado lends a lovely softness. It is aged in this oak for at least six months!