Destilado de Agave, 'Chepiche, Papalo y Cilantro - Puebla'

• Destilado de agave produced in Tepeojuma, Puebla, Mexico
• Maestro Mezcalero Asunción Matilda Vargas
• 100% Espadilla (Agave angustifolia) harvested one year after capón (castration)
• Cooked in a traditional pit oven made of earth and stone
• Milled by hand using an axe
• Fermented in a shallow stone well
• Distilled twice using a hybrid Filipino-style pot still of clay and wood with an external condenser made of copper (refrescadera)—honestly, a totally wild still
• Chepiche (aka tepiche), papalo, and wild cilantro are added to the second distillation
• Rested over 2 years before bottling
• Beyond the obvious aromas of cilantro, papalo, and chepiche, distinct waves of celery, cucumber, watermelon rind, lime zest, freshly cut grass, dill, and chewy Mamba candy unfold
• 62% ABV (ABV may vary batch to batch)

This is a collaborative batch, devised in partnership between maestro mezcalero Asunción Matilda Vargas, Erick Rodriguez (Pal’alma), and Skurnik’s Spirits Portfolio Manager, Mexico, Justin Lane Briggs! During a particularly inspired session over copitas in Puebla, the idea was hatched to coalesce these three lovely, similar-but-different green herbs in one balancing act. The trio—cilantro, papalo (a wide, circular leaf which looks reminiscent of nasturtium leaf), and tepiche (aka chepiche, a slender leaf like tiny blades of grass)—all play in the same aromatic sandbox, and pair exquisitely with agave spirits as well as cuisine from warm climates as disparate as Oaxaca, Delhi, and Hanoi. The promise of pairing possibilities alone was thrilling! Using Asunción’s unique still to create a concentrated, potent extraction of these bold flavors, the spirit was laid down to rest and integrate for over two years before bottling. The final product manages to seem both powerful and delicate, with a cooling vibe that belies the intensity of the ABV. Unless you are one of those unfortunate few for whom coriander and cilantro taste “soapy,” this delightful mezcal promises to be deeply refreshing, offering an unforgettable sensation.