All tagged Mexican Spirits
This special release of Tepeztate is an exciting collaboration with Argonaut Wine & Liquor in Denver, CO. With Vago Co-Founders Judah Kuper and Dylan Sloan having Colorado roots, it has always been a “home market” of sorts, with some of our biggest fans and best friends. Argonaut is no exception. We are very excited to share this special batch of 50 liters of Tepeztate from Emigdio Jarquín that we put aside to rest in glass for one year, allowing it to be designated as Madurado en Vidrio.
For our friends in New Orleans, we have got something special headed your way! A project two years in the making, we are very excited to announce this very special release in collaboration with our friends at VALS. This 100% Espadín mezcal was distilled by Tío Rey in November of 2018, then rested for six months in antique clay mezcalero cántaros that have been in Aquilino’s family for nearly 100 years. The entire 93-liter batch was then rested again in sealed glass garrafones for another year before being bottled. All 20 cases have just arrived in New Orleans and will ONLY be available to sip at VALS. We have always had a soft spot in our heart for New Orleans, and have been lucky to call many in that city our friends. The Vago family is very excited to share this special batch which combines the traditions of our original two families, Tío Rey’s and Aquilino’s, with our friends at VALS.
Our latest special release is something we have patiently been waiting for the last few years! Those that follow Mezcal Vago likely know that we have been working with maestro Joel Barriga for a while now, bottling the 100% Espadín he and his son Adán produce in the village of Hacienda Tapanala, hidden in the Oaxacan Sierra Madre del Sur. Over this time we have had several conversations with them about producing other expressions to complement their Espadín and showcase the skill of the father-son team. Well, 2020 is the year! We are very proud to announce our second Colorado-exclusive release is a wonderful ensamble of Tepeztate and Tobalá produced in January of 2020!
Mezcal Vago is proud to move to the next chapter in our story with the launch of Hijos de Aquilino. Since the passing of Aquilino earlier this year, his sons Temo and Mateo have been preparing to carry on the family tradition. Having spent their lives at Aquilino’s side, learning his methods and gaining the knowledge handed down through generations, they have spent the last few years taking on more of the distillation duties at the family palenque. With the launch of Hijos de Aquilino, Temo and Mateo are proud to work together to build on the legacy Aquilino left them.
Our friend Fran Yazp was kind enough to share some beautiful footage in Aquilino that he captured in 2014. He has put the footage together into a short documentary as part of his forthcoming Documezcal series that truly encapsulates Aquilino's balance of modesty and pride. It also shows how serene the rugged landscape is around Candelaria Yegolé. Please give him a share and a follow on YouTube!
Mezcal Vago’s Mexicano is a treat for connoisseurs. This mezcal has become renowned for its’ nuance and is beautiful sipped on its own. It is one of the lightest, most elegant expressions of mezcal to come out of the Vago lineup. It has a great balance of spiciness and sweetness that is distinct to the Agave Mexicano. Aquilino’s techniques highlight these characteristics from the spicy aroma through a touch of sweetness on the finish. The hints of cacao, cinnamon, and vanilla make it a perfect digestif or pairing with dessert.
Mezcal Vago is excited to share our second ever release of a rare mezcal known as Bien Picado. This savory, earthy batch of Aquilino’s mezcal was produced from 89% Espadín and 11% Mexicano Verde. This small, 139-liter batch of mezcal was produced in February of 2019. Like our first limited run of this mezcal, produced in 2012, the entire batch was sent to our good friends in the great state of Texas. At 139-liters, if you haven’t already procured yourself a bottle, you should probably pony-up to your favorite mezcalería and ask them to pour you a taste. The long, rich finish will create a memory to last until our next batch.
For those of you mezcal nerds that have been paying attention, we over here at Vago have been slowly expanding our ensamble selections over the past year. You are all most likely familiar with Tío Rey’s Ensamble en Barro, which we have been doing since day one. But starting with the sought-after Curry-30 batch back in 2016, we have been encouraging the mezcaleros we work with to pursue their natural instincts to experiment with blending flavors from different agave varietals into a single, complete mezcal with an intriguing and complex profile.
