Del Maguey Minero Mezcal
Photo courtesy of Gemini Spirits
Distiller Details
Del Maguey
Oaxaca, Mexico,
Website FacebookAwards & Recognition
- Bronze Medal at the 2008 Agave Spirits Challenge
Price Range
Premium — $51–$100
Where to Buy
THL: What is it?
Del Maguey Minero Mezcal is produced in the village of Santa Catarina Minas in Oaxaca, Mexico.
THL: Why should you try it?
Each of the mezcals in the Del Maguey portfolio are made from a single small village and hand-selected by mezcal mastermind, Ron Cooper. The area where Del Maguey Minero agave is grown is considered semi-tropical, as opposed to the dry desert climate of the surrounding villages. The water in the town of Santa Catarina Minas is of remarkable quality. The still used to make this mezcal has the unique composition of clay with bamboo tubing, as opposed to the more traditional copper or modern stainless steel. This contributes to the earthy, fruity, and slightly oily and viscous spirit that is truly a perfect representation how terroir and distilling styles can impact the final product.
THL: Who makes it?
Del Maguey Mezcal Minero is produced by Florencio Carlos and his two sons, Florencio Carlos Vasquez and Luis Carlos Vasaquez and is imported through Del Maguey, Ltd. It is produced in the village of Santa Catarina Minas. The Del Maguey, Ltd. portfolio also includes, Del Maguey Chichicapa, Del Maguey San Luis del Rio, Del Maguey Domingo Albarradas, and Del Maguey Pechuga.
THL: What does it taste like?
Vanilla, pipe tobacco, black pepper, olive oil
THL: How should you drink it?
Del Maguey Minero is traditionally sipped neat our of small clay bowls called copitas, but we asked Del Maguey brand ambassador Tommy “Tweed” Klus, of Kask in Portland, Oregon, to create an original cocktail for The Hooch Life. He came up with a variation on the Chrysanthemum cocktail, called the Dearly Departed.
1-1/2 ounces Del Maguey Minero Mezcal
3/4 ounce Dry Vermouth
1/2 ounce Benedictine
1/2 ounce honey simple syrup (2:1)
Herbsaint rinse
Rinse a cocktail glass with Herbsaint, and discard excess. Add all other ingredients, and garnish with a grapefruit twist.
Honey Simple Syrup: Mix 2 parts honey with 1 part water. Stir until honey dissolves.
