CELEBRATING MEZCALS
A HANDFUL OF RECENT FAVORITES
It seems like a new tequila or mezcal brand appears every month. Celebrity-backed labels, venture-funded pipe dreams, and flashy bottles competing for shelf space. And while agave is increasingly scarce, these spirits somehow feel more ubiquitous than ever.
At the shop, we make it a priority to stock wines and spirits crafted by real artisans — producers who value tradition, transparency, and a true sense of place. Our newest arrivals from Mexico are no exception.
Like wine, mezcal can express terroir: the landscape, climate, and culture where it’s made. When produced authentically, in small batches and with minimal intervention, each bottle tells a distinct story.
Through conversations and tastings with Monica Bautista Cortés of Casa Cortés, we had the opportunity to explore her remarkable range of mezcals and ultimately bring three extraordinary bottles onto our shelves.
The Cortés family has been making mezcal since the 1840s in Oaxaca. Today, their portfolio ranges from approachable everyday pours to hyper-regional expressions under Nuestra Soledad, and rare wild agave bottlings from El Jolgorio. In many ways they are responsible for keeping certain species of agave in production, and while working with local artisans, keeping their history and culture alive.
These are some of the most memorable mezcals we’ve tasted in years. Bottles that capture both heritage and place with remarkable clarity.
Nuestra Soledad 'Zoquitlan' Mezcal
Ignacio “Don Chucho” Parada is widely regarded as one of Oaxaca’s great mezcaleros — celebrated both for the quality of his spirits and for his longstanding influence within the mezcal community. Alongside his son José, he produces this 100% Espadín expression in the village of Santa Maria Zoquitlán, whose mineral-rich soils and distinctive microclimate give the agaves a remarkable sense of place.
The aromatics are layered and expressive: mineral-driven at first, followed by fresh botanicals, citrus zest, soft smoke, red pepper, and hints of tropical fruit. On the palate, it is savory, textured, and deeply complex, finishing long with lingering minerality and spice. Given a little time in the glass, even more nuance begins to emerge.
El Jolgorio 'Gregorio Martinez Jarquin' Tobala Mezcal
Produced in Santiago Matatlán by Maestro Mezcalero Gregorio Martinez Jarquin, this mezcal is made using traditional methods throughout: pit-roasted Tobalá agaves, hand-milling, open-air natural fermentation, and double distillation in copper stills.
The resulting spirit is deeply expressive and remarkably elegant. Floral aromatics unfold alongside citrus zest, tropical fruit, fresh herbs, and soft smoke, all carried by a layered texture and long, complex finish. Tobalá can often feel almost weightless despite its intensity. A mezcal that reveals more with every sip. A rare and beautiful bottle that captures why Tobalá has earned its near-mythic reputation.
El Jolgorio 'Rio Seco' Mezcal Tepeztate
This limited-production mezcal is made from 100% Tepeztate (Agave marmorata), a slow-growing wild agave that can take anywhere from 13 to 26 years to mature. Produced in the village of Río Seco by members of the renowned Parada family, these mezcals often strike a compelling balance between earthy, savory depth and vibrant, fruit-driven aromatics.
The nose opens with layers of snap pea, parsnip, shishito pepper, Meyer lemon, and subtle smoke, followed by brighter notes of stone fruit, herbs, and spice. On the palate, it is deeply complex and constantly shifting: jasmine, juniper, pear skin, dark cider, coriander, and savory vegetal tones all emerge in waves before giving way to a long, vivid finish.
