Los Vecinos del Campo Ensamble No. 1 Mezcal

DESCRIPTION

Los Vecinos del Campo means 'Neighbors of the Field' and honors the centuries-old mezcal distilling traditions of Oaxaca and the people whose families have produced these rich spirits for generations. In Valles Centrales de Oaxaca, a group of mezcaleros distills these small batch mezcals using time-honored, traditional methods passed down by their ancestors. Utilizing locally grown and hand-harvested agave, the sultry, smoky sweetness of these artesanal mezcals is reached after days of slow roasting agave hearts underground. The piñas are crushed using a stone molino, then naturally fermented in wooden vats, and, finally, double distilled using a copper pot still. 

Ensamble No. 1, the first ensamble released in the Los Vecinos family, is composed of 5% Barril, 5% Madrecuishe, and 90% Espadin agave. Barril and Madrecuishe are subspecies of the Karwinskii agave family. These species differ in appearance from other agave plants, growing a vertical stalk with a skinny, tall piña. The stalk and the piña are often harvested together. At harvest, Madrecuishe and Barril are typically 15 years old and Espadin is typically 8 years old.

These agaves grow in an elevation range of 1500 -1700 msnm in the Valles Centrales and Sierra Sur. The agaves are roasted in an earth pit, crushed with a traditional stone Molino, and fermented 7 days in warm weather or between 12 to 15 days in cold weather. The joven mezcal is then distilled in a copper pot still and is bottled unaged.