Wahaka Mezcal Madre-Cuishe (75cl, 42%)

Wahaka Mezcal Madre-Cuishe is a single-varietal joven mezcal made from 100% Madre-Cuishe agave (Agave karwinskii). It is produced around San Dionisio Ocotepec, Oaxaca, by maestro Alberto 'Beto' Morales. Production includes earthen pit roasting, tahona milling, fermentation with wild yeast in pine vats and double distillation in copper. Madre-Cuishe is a tall, tree-like agave whose long maturation gives a mezcal of unusual dryness and poise. The mezcal is bottled at 42% ABV in a 750ml bottle. On the nose there is green aloe, pine sap and white pepper over light agave syrup and dusty clay. The palate brings lime, lemon and pepper with sage, candied ginger and a little mango over firm minerality, and the finish is long, dry and earthy-citrus.