Gusto Historico Astor Select Reina Tepextate Mezcal - 2021

Reina Jarquin, the aunt of Gusto founder Marco Ochoa, is considered Oaxacan/Mezcal royalty, but she's unlike any queen you've ever encountered. A single grandmother raising her grandson, she does everything by herself: grows much of her own agave (except wild agaves), employs traditional milpa style regenerative agriculture (e.g. co-plants of crops like heirloom maiz, squash, chiles, beans), and farms biodynamically (planting and harvesting according to the lunar cycle). Distillation is also old-school, using a copper pot with a refrescadera attachment that gives the mezcals weight, supple texture, and a fruit-forward clean character. The Tezpextate is earthy, dense and textured with notes of burnt caramel and cocoa. Only 40 ltrs were made. Get this while you can.