An impressive collection of mezcals discovered by Read Spear in tiny distilleries, some south of Oaxaca city in the central valley, others in Sola de Vega in the rugged Sierra Sur.
Making great artisanal mezcal happen out in the market is not just about finding talented distillers. It’s about doing business with them in a way that keeps this beautiful human activity alive. It’s simple things: respecting tradition, dealing empathetically, helping humans make enough money so that their kids don’t go to L.A. to find work.
Read Spear has brought on some wonderfully talented distillers, but his real accomplishment shows up in the photos: making his dream their dream too: keeping alive what they love, what they give their hearts to. It’s about work and community and a culture. It’s about treating humans the way humans should be treated
Cuentacuentos
CUENTACUENTOS Barro Mezcal:
Small 30-liter batches of joven espadín (agave angustifolia): the first distillation in copper, the second distillation in a 35-liter clay pot still in Santiago Matatlan, the historical center of Oaxacan mezcal distillation. Read Spear has worked a miracle: clay-pot mezcal with real character at a decent price. Soft clay mouthfeel. 46% abv. $65 video
CUENTACUENTOS Barro – Entire 2nd Distillation Batch:
Craft Distillers sells batches to bars that are the entirety of a second distillation in a small clay pot, 30 1 liter bottles. We put your name (or your group's) and the batch number on a strip label: you would have the only 30 bottles in the world.
CUENTACUENTOS Arroqueño ancestral – MCRios:
Wild agave Americana from Miguel Cruz Rios in El Lazo, west of Sola de Vega. The region's arroqueño has a feral intensity. Complex, & well-distilled.
CUENTACUENTOS Arroqueño Artesanal -A.C.Robles:
From Ángel Cruz Robles in El Lazo in the mountains above Sola de Vega. Wild agave Americana var. Arroqueño is acidic, yielding a mezcal that is clean and intense.
CUENTACUENTOS Coyote Ancestral–A.Calvo:
Clay-distilled. A wild local sub-varietal of agave Americana, like arroqueño but with narrower spines. From Ángel Cruz Calvo, Angel Robles grandfather in El Lazo above Sola de Vega. Here’s video of Angel Calvo, aged 86, using a mazo.
CUENTACUENTOS Coyote Ancestral-A.C.Robles:
On clay potstills. A wild local sub-varietal of agave Americana. Another beauty from Ángel Cruz Robles in El Lazo above Sola de Vega.
Exceptionally clean.
CUENTACUENTOS Cuish Artesanal – Serafin Garcia:
Wild agave Karwinskii from Serafín Garcia Gerónimo near San Dioniso Ocotopec. We like Karwinskii because it is high-stalked, away from the heat of the ground, so the flavors taste a bit fresher. Cuish is Serafin’s specialty: beautifully distilled.
CUENTACUENTOS Cupreata (Papalote) artesanal-B. Gatica:
Wild agave cupreata capón harvested at 1600 meters from Benigno Sanchez Gatica in El Peral, Chilapa de Alvarez, Guerrero state. Cupreata is at its' best in Guerrero. Ansley's favorite agave/intense.
CUENTACUENTOS Espadín ancestral – MCRios:
Mountain-grown agave and gustifolia from Miguel Cruz Rios in El Lazo, west of Sola de Vega. Chalky soils, mountainous terrain and ancestral methods create a uniquely worthy mezcal.
CUENTACUENTOS Espadin Ancestral -A.C. Robles:
From Ángel Cruz Calvo in El Lazo above Sola de Vega. High mountain agaves distilled in clay, Ángel Calvo is 86 and still used a mazo.
CUENTACUENTOS Espadin Artesanal -Serafin:
From Serafin Garcia Geronimo near San Dioniso Ocotopec. Single batch Agave angustifolia. Unusually well distilled blanco
CUENTACUENTOS Madrecuishe Artesanal-Everardo:
Semi-wild agave Karwinskii from Everardo Garcia Salvador in San Pablo Mitla (the 1544 church stands on top of great Mizteca ruins). One of Everardo’s last distillations. Soft minerality from chalky soil
CUENTACUENTOS Mexicano Artesanal-L.Santos:
Wild agave macroacantha from Laurentino Santos in Santa Catarina Coatlan in Miahuatlan. Nice minerality from the ferriferous soils.
CUENTACUENTOS Tepeztate Artesanal – Serafin:
From Serafin Garcia Geronimo near San Dioniso Ocotopec. Agave marmorata.
CUENTACUENTOS Tobala -D.Leon:
Wild agave potatorum from Daniel Léon in Quielela near Sola de Vega, Ancestral distillation in a clay pot still. Tobalá from Sola de Vega distilled in clay is about as good as mezcal gets.
CUENTACUENTOS Tobala Ancestral-A.C.Calvo:
From Ángel Cruz Calvo in El Lazo in the mountains above Sola de Vega. The rare agave Seemania: worth buying. Scarce
CUENTACUENTOS Tobalá ancestral – A.C.Robles:
The wild and rare variant agave Seemania from Angel Cruz Robles in El Lazo, west of Sola de Vega. The region produces Oaxaca's best tobalás. Complex and mineral. Great mezcal from a great distiller
