{"product_id":"bozal-mezcal-castilla-reserva-750ml","title":"Bozal Mezcal Castilla Reserva 750ml","description":"\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eCastilla is a genuinely uncommon agave — a close cousin of the far more widely cultivated Espadín, but smaller in size and typically found growing wild rather than farmed, which means its character leans heavily on whatever specific terroir it happens to grow in. Mezcal Bozal built its entire identity around exactly this kind of wild, indigenous agave, sourced from the steep, precarious hillsides of Oaxaca, Guerrero, and Durango — as the brand's own philosophy puts it: \"something wild produces a far richer spirit.\" This particular Reserva bottling comes from San Nicolás de Acevedo, in Durango, a region whose specific soil and climate character shapes the mezcal's genuinely distinctive final profile.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eProduction follows traditional Durango-style methods throughout: open-air fermentation in wooden vats (known locally as \"cuffin\" style), relying entirely on wild, airborne yeast and mountain spring water rather than any cultivated strain. The mezcal is then twice distilled, using a genuinely unusual combination of clay pot stills alongside a Filipino-style hybrid still made of both clay and wood — a distinctive production choice that reflects the deep, cross-cultural history of Filipino-Mexican distillation techniques found in parts of rural Mexico. Bozal was acquired in November 2024 and now operates under Mexican ownership through Maguey Spirits, continuing the brand's original commitment to small-batch, artisan, hand-made mezcal.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eBozal's current official tasting notes describe \"deep, earthy aromatics with notes of weathered leather and soft minerality, accented by a restrained touch of smoke,\" developing on the palate into \"bold flavors of cooked meats, chipotle, and ancho chili,\" creating \"a rich, savory experience that finishes smooth, with lingering whispers of smoke\" — closing as \"a robust, terroir-driven expression for those who appreciate complexity and depth.\" Independent reviewers at Mezcal Reviews found genuinely varied character across different lots: one taster described it as \"very unique and tasty,\" with a nose \"briney and buttery with agave and floral notes,\" the taste \"a balance of sweet and salt\" reminiscent of \"beef or chicken bouillon,\" closing with \"black pepper and some subtle mint.\" Another found the mezcal \"bursting with flavors — few of them pedestrian or routine,\" though noting \"some rough patches, including the dominating smoke on the palate.\" A third reviewer's tasting found \"wet dirt and barnyard on the initial nose,\" with \"lots of subtle fruit flavors including mango and ripe cantaloupe,\" closing with \"herbs and mild serrano peppers on the finish.\" This bottling has also earned a genuine Double Gold Medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition — real, independently judged confirmation of quality behind an already genuinely distinctive spirit.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch3 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOrigins \u0026amp; Craftsmanship\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eBozal Mezcal Castilla Reserva is produced in San Nicolás de Acevedo, Durango, Mexico, as part of Mezcal Bozal's broader commitment to celebrating wild, indigenous agave varieties sourced from the steep, remote hillsides of Oaxaca, Guerrero, and Durango. Made from 100% wild Castilla agave (part of the American Oaxacensis agave family, a close cousin to Espadín), the mezcal is fermented traditionally in open-air, Durango-style wooden vats, relying entirely on wild airborne yeast and mountain spring water.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eDistillation takes place twice, using a combination of clay pot stills and a Filipino-style hybrid still constructed from both clay and wood. Bozal was acquired in November 2024 and now operates under Mexican ownership through Maguey Spirits, continuing the brand's original craft, artisan, small-batch philosophy. This bottling has earned a Double Gold Medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch3 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCritics Reviews\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDouble Gold Medal — San Francisco World Spirits Competition\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMezcal Reviews community (extended independent review):\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Very unique and tasty! The nose is briney and buttery with agave\/floral notes. The taste is a balance of sweet and salt. It reminds me of beef or chicken bouillon. Finish has black pepper and some subtle mint. Very good!\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMezcal Reviews community (alternate review):\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Interesting bottle for sure. This expression is bursting with flavors — few of them pedestrian or routine. While I like it, there are some rough patches, including the dominating smoke on the palate that sort of set it back to me.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMezcal Reviews community (alternate review):\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Really enjoying this one! Has wet dirt and barnyard on the initial nose that lasts throughout the pour. Lots of subtle fruit flavors including mango and ripe cantaloupe. Herbs and mild serrano peppers on the finish. There is a lot going on here. A must try if you see it.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMaguey Spirits \/ Bozal (current official tasting notes):\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Aroma: Deep, earthy aromatics with notes of weathered leather and soft minerality, accented by a restrained touch of smoke. Palate: Bold flavors of cooked meats, chipotle, and ancho chili create a rich, savory experience that finishes smooth, with lingering whispers of smoke. Finish: A robust, terroir-driven expression for those who appreciate complexity and depth.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch3 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTasting Profile\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNose\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDeep and earthy, with weathered leather and soft minerality, accented by a restrained touch of smoke. Some batches show briney, buttery agave and floral notes, or wet dirt and barnyard character.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePalate\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBold and savory, with cooked meats, chipotle, and ancho chili leading, balanced by a slight sweetness of roasted agave and mocha. Some tasting finds fresh mint, black pepper, mango, or ripe cantaloupe adding further complexity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFinish\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSmooth, with lingering whispers of smoke, closing robust and terroir-driven — genuinely complex, with real batch-to-batch character variation reflecting the mezcal's wild, indigenous agave sourcing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch3 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eQuick Overview\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cdiv dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003cthead\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth scope=\"col\"\u003eCategory\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth scope=\"col\"\u003eDetails\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/thead\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eStyle\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMezcal Reserva — Single Agave (Método Ancestral)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eABV \/ Proof\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eVaries by source — 48% ABV (200ml listing) to 52% ABV\/104 proof (larger format)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAgave\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e100% wild Castilla (Agave angustifolia)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRegion\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSan Nicolás de Acevedo, Durango, Mexico\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFermentation\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOpen-air, Durango-style wooden vats, wild yeast, mountain spring water\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDistillation\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTwice distilled — clay pot stills + Filipino-style clay-and-wood hybrid still\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProducer\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMezcal Bozal (Maguey Spirits, since November 2024)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAwards\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDouble Gold Medal, San Francisco World Spirits Competition\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eStyle \/ Identity\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eA genuinely wild, terroir-driven single-agave mezcal — savory, earthy, and complex, with real batch variation\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAromas \u0026amp; Flavors\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWeathered leather, wet stone, cooked meats, chipotle, ancho chili, restrained smoke\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBottle Size\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e750ml\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch3 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFood Pairings\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGrilled or smoked meats\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eChipotle and ancho chili-based dishes\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCeviche and fresh seafood\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAged cheeses\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch3 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eServing Note\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eBest enjoyed neat, in a copita or small tasting glass, to fully appreciate its layered, savory character.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Breakthru","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45157123424322,"sku":null,"price":100.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0363\/8621\/files\/Bozal_Mezcal_Castilla_Reserva_750ml.jpg?v=1788586186","url":"https:\/\/www.blackwellswines.com\/products\/bozal-mezcal-castilla-reserva-750ml","provider":"Blackwell's Wines \u0026 Spirits","version":"1.0","type":"link"}