Veneno Magico Tepeztate Mezcal Artesanal

Crafted in Santiago Matatlán, Oaxaca, Mexico, Veneno Mágico Tepeztate is a wild-harvested single-varietal mezcal produced by local master mezcaleros adhering to traditional Oaxacan craft. Made from 100% wild Tepeztate agave (Agave marmorata), which grows precariously on steep, rocky limestone cliffs and takes an extraordinary 25 to 35 years to reach maturity, this expression captures the rare and unyielding terroir of the Oaxacan highlands. The wild piñas are hand-harvested, slow-cooked in traditional underground conical stone pit ovens fueled by oak and mesquite wood, crushed using a horse-drawn stone tahona wheel, and open-fermented in wooden pine vats with natural wild airborne yeasts. Double-distilled in classic copper pot stills, this unaged expression delivers a remarkably complex, intense profile packed with bright herbal notes, yellow blossom aromas, stone fruit, and a deep, chalky minerality balanced by soft mesquite smoke.

Food Pairing: Fresh ceviche with mango, grilled lamb chops, roasted pork carnitas, fresh goat cheese crostini, smoked trout, or dark chocolate with sea salt.

Tasting Notes: Crystal clear in appearance with brilliant clarity, a silky medium-to-full body, and slow-dripping, viscous tears.

Nose: Intensely aromatic, fresh, and floral, opening with yellow wild blossoms, sweet cooked agave, and crushed green herbs, accompanied by soft wood smoke, jalapeño pepper skin, white pepper, and damp limestone earthiness.

Palate: Complex, vibrant, and herbaceous on the palate, featuring caramelized agave nectar, green melon, and zesty lime upfront before unfolding into soft mesquite smoke, cracked white pepper, pine resin, and chalky stone minerality.

Finish: Long, clean, and herbal with lingering notes of sweet botanical agave, delicate oak smoke, zesty citrus pith, and a cooling, mineral-driven warmth.

Serve: Enjoy neat at room temperature in a traditional clay copita or Glencairn glass to appreciate the wild, complex floral and herbal character of slow-matured Tepeztate.