{"product_id":"koch-el-mezcal-ancestral-espadin-de-sola-de-vega-750ml","title":"Koch El Mezcal Ancestral Espadín de Sola de Vega 750ml","description":"\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eSola de Vega, in the Sierra Sur region of Oaxaca, is one of the best-known places for traditional clay-pot mezcal, along with Santa Catarina Minas. This Koch mezcal is a Mezcal Ancestral from Sola de Vega, a classification meaning that no machines were used in mashing the cooked agaves and that the spirit was distilled in “barro de olla” clay pot stills, one of the oldest and most labor-intensive methods in mezcal. Koch El Mezcal is a passion project built around traditional producers, with a mission of preserving traditional methods and supporting local mezcaleros.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eThe process, as Koch describes it: Maestro Alberto Vasquez harvests 7- to 9-year-old Espadín agaves and pit-roasts them in a conical oven. The cooked agaves are crushed with wooden mallets and fermented with well water and ambient yeasts in wooden tinas (open-top cypress barrels). The ferment is double distilled in clay pots, and the strength is adjusted using “puntas y colas,” the heads and tails of the distillation, to reach a final 47% ABV. It is bottled as a joven, unaged mezcal.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eThe result is a mineral-driven, delicate, distinctive mezcal. A retailer’s description: “mineral driven with palpable smokiness,” with “some notes of sweet corn, some tropical fruits, petrichor, and a lovely clay richness on the palate.” Another set of notes describes “a long persistence of orange blossoms and cinnamon, with hints of old leather and smoked cedar,” and “a medium body with mineral notes, and light flavors of cardamom and nutmeg,” with “a silky texture flavored with cotton candy, and a prolonged finish of almond butter.” Others find “ripe tropical fruit, a hint of fresh herbs, and a whisper of sweet smoke.” It’s a gentler, more complex alternative to the heavily smoky mezcals, and for tequila drinkers, an introduction to clay-pot distillation. Sip it neat in a copita with a slice of orange, or use it in a mezcal Negroni, Paloma, or margarita.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch3 dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"4\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOrigins \u0026amp; Craftsmanship\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eKoch El Mezcal Ancestral Espadín de Sola de Vega is produced in Sola de Vega, in the Sierra Sur region of Oaxaca, Mexico, from 7- to 9-year-old Espadín agaves (Agave angustifolia), pit-roasted in a conical oven, crushed with wooden mallets, fermented with well water and ambient yeasts in open-top wooden tinas, and double distilled in clay pots by Maestro Mezcalero Alberto Vasquez. Joven (unaged). Bottled at 47% ABV \/ 94 proof, 750ml.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch3 dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"4\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCritics Reviews\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eNo critic scores are published for this product.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eImporter tasting notes:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Aromas: Long persistence of orange blossoms and cinnamon, with hints of old leather and smoked cedar. On the palate: Medium body with mineral notes, and light flavors of cardamom and nutmeg. Silky texture flavored with cotton candy, and a prolonged finish of almond butter.”\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch3 dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"4\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTasting Profile\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNose\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eOrange blossom and cinnamon, with old leather, smoked cedar, sweet corn, and a touch of petrichor.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePalate\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMedium-bodied, silky, and mineral, with cardamom, nutmeg, tropical fruit, and clay richness, and a whisper of sweet smoke.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFinish\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eProlonged, with almond butter and gentle smoke.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch3 dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"4\"\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 Ancestral — Joven, Single Agave\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eABV \/ Proof\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e47% ABV \/ 94 Proof\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAgave\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eEspadín, 7–9 years old\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRegion\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSola de Vega, Sierra Sur, Oaxaca, Mexico\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProduction\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePit-roasted; hand-crushed with wooden mallets; ambient-yeast fermentation in wooden tinas; double distilled in clay pots\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMaestro Mezcalero\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAlberto Vasquez\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBrand\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eKoch El Mezcal\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 mineral, silky, gently smoky clay-pot mezcal with orange blossom and tropical fruit\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\u003eOrange blossom, cinnamon, smoked cedar, tropical fruit, clay minerality, almond butter\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\" aria-level=\"4\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCocktail Suggestions\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNeat in a copita\u003c\/strong\u003e — with a slice of orange and sal de gusano.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMezcal Negroni\u003c\/strong\u003e — equal parts mezcal, sweet vermouth, and Campari.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePaloma or Mezcal Margarita\u003c\/strong\u003e — for a smoky variation on a classic.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch3 dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"4\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFood Pairings\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGrilled meats and tacos al pastor\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMole and roasted vegetables\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFresh fruit with chili and lime\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDark chocolate\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Breakthru","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45813941338178,"sku":null,"price":68.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0363\/8621\/files\/D555A21A-B6FC-477B-ADBA-9262A38EB1E4_1_201_a.jpg?v=1792901865","url":"https:\/\/www.blackwellswines.com\/products\/koch-el-mezcal-ancestral-espadin-de-sola-de-vega-750ml","provider":"Blackwell's Wines \u0026 Spirits","version":"1.0","type":"link"}