Brand Introduction

A mission-driven, social impact-driven company, Erstwhile is a boutique agave spirits importer based in Brooklyn, New York.  Our mission: advocate for small, independent, family-owned producers who lack representation outside their local communities in Mexico; and bring their craft to mezcal lovers in international markets for the first time.

We work closely with our partner producers and set them up for success.  No haggling.  No exclusivity contracts.  We guide producers through the complicated steps to export in their own names for the first time, and cover necessary expenses including local attorneys, accountants, license fees, and more.  We absorb our producers’ marketing and supply chain costs as our own. 

We believe in autonomy for producers, be it hiring their own workers or using their own bottling facility. We only step in if they want our help. We connect our partner producers to share knowledge and help each other in production. 

Revenue from every Erstwhile bottle sold creates jobs in our partner producers’ and vendors’ local communities in Mexico.  Our producers hire their own team of local men and women, on their own terms. 

Erstwhile is a woman-owned, women-led business.  Our team is multicultural and multilingual.  We are outspoken about elevating underrepresented voices in Mezcal and our industry. 

Erstwhile Espadin Mezcal 375 ml (2021 Ancestral Limited Edition)

Only 300 liters made.  This rare batch of Espadin – one of Erstwhile's 2021 Ancestral Limited Releases- marks Master Mezcalero Juan Abel Quiroz Agustín's debut in the United States and international markets.  Natural fermentation with wild native yeasts in sabino cypress wood vats.   Distilled exclusively in clay pots.  Crafted with love in Santa María Sola, Oaxaca. 

Double distilled in traditional pot stills. Matured for 16 months in ex Bourbon oak casks to produce a smooth, clean and vibrant flavor with a hint of smoke.

A scarlet sparkler that’s unexpectedly refreshing with notes of bright cherry, zingy citrus and fresh apples with a crisp finish.

Maker Notes

Our story begins in San Juan del Rio, a town in Oaxaca where artisanal, small batch mezcal has been made for generations.

Pluma Negra is cultivated and distilled by the Hernandez family who have produced Mezcal in the region for nearly 45 years. Our Maestro Mezcalero, Rodolfo Hernandez, is a third generation Mezcalero who uses time honored traditions to create Pluma Negra - animal drawn tahona to crush the maguey, pine barrel fermentation, and double distillation in copper pots.

Pluma Negra proudly presents four expressions of Mezcal that embody the essence and complexity of this distinct spirit - deep rich flavors on the palate, and aromas that can be both delicate and robust on the nose - Espadín, and a cocktail Espadín, Tobalá, and Tepeztate.

ESPADÍN
Espadín grows throughout Oaxaca. Our Maestro Mezcalero employs traditional methods for harvest and distillation.

Donkeys transport machete cut maguey down to where it’s cooked in an underground earthen oven. An animal powered tahona stone grinds the baked maguey, which is placed in pine barrels for wild yeast fermentation. All of our Mezcal expressions are finished with a double distillation process in small batch copper pots.

TASTING NOTES
Espadín is light and fresh on the nose - lime, pear and apple come forward, with subtle herbal and almond notes at the end. It has a light and zingy feel that flows between tangy citrus and briny olives that lingers long on the palate. Espadín is beautifully approachable and perfect for people who are new to experiencing Mezcal.

HOW TO ENJOY
Our 40% ABV Espadín is designed as a cocktail spirit, try mixing over ice with tangy sweet pineapple juice, zingy citrus fruits such as tangerine, orange and lime, or crisp and clean cucumber. Our 48% ABV Espadín is a sipping Mezcal that is best enjoyed neat. Pairs well with lightly smoked fish.

Redwood Empire Foggy Burl Single Malt Whiskey is a unique expression that captures the coastal influence of its namesake. Crafted with precision, this single malt offers a complex and nuanced drinking experience, reflecting the region's coastal fog. Ideal for sipping neat or on the rocks, it exemplifies Redwood Empire's commitment to quality and innovation in the world of single malts.

Maker Notes

Armida is a blend of three Straight Bourbon Whiskeys finished separately in pear brandy, Jamaican rum, and Sicilian amaro casks. Each release is blended to taste and bottled at true cask strength, resulting in subtle proof variations between blends. Elegant, lush, and multidimensional, Armida offers pleasures as rare as a perfect piece of tree-ripened fruit. 

Pears are all about timing. Ripeness can’t be rushed. And once it’s arrived, it can’t be postponed, either. How do you know? By paying close attention, using your senses to tell when the flavor and texture are just right, and then trusting your instincts to catch the perfect moment.

In that sense, ripening pears is a lot like making whiskey. Inspired by the care and attention of great orchardists, we created Armida as a celebration of fall flavors. It’s a blend of three straight bourbon whiskeys finished separately in pear brandy, Jamaican rum, and Sicilian amaro casks. The ripe floral notes of the pear brandy usher in a palate rich with tropical sweetness and studded with dried citrus and spice. We release it once a year, right when the first pears appear in markets — and just like ephemeral autumn fruits, it’s only available for a limited time. 

While constructing the blend for this whiskey, Joe was taken by how nostalgic some of the combinations of flavors were. Joe’s mother’s family had a farm in the northeast where he would often spend time in the summer and autumn. These brisk, orchard fruit memories inspired many of the first test blends and so, Joe named the project after his mother’s formal name, Armida.

FLAVOR NOTES

Appearance: Bright gold with a pale rim.

Nose: Opens with creamy and sweet notes of carrot cake, dulce de leche, and chestnut honey. The pear brandy’s influence inflects the core aroma, with poached pear leading blackberry and dried lime peel. Shimmering at the edges are countless herbs and dusty spices. Notes familiar to Sicilian amari, such as fennel seed, aniseed, nutmeg, and cacao are there. As Sicily was once part of the Duchy of Savoy licorice, wormwood and chamomile are encountered here, in Savoy’s tradition of genepy and absinthe.

Palate: Lush sweetness is kept in check by some sandy tannin and high strength. Here, the rum takes center stage, with blackstrap molasses, sambuca, and olive brine arriving first. The rich dark character builds with date and chipotle leading into pipe tobacco and walnut. The amaro is never far behind, exhibiting licorice root, gentian, green cardamom and kola nut.

Finish: Green almond enriches an otherwise dry finish of black tea and slate.

AWARDS​​​

Best Unique Barrel-Finished Bourbon at the L.A. Spirits Awards -2022

Platinum at the L.A. Spirits Awards -2022

Wine Enthusiast Rating of 95

94 POINTS at the Ultimate Spirits Challenge - 2021

Gold at the John Barleycorn Awards - 2021

Gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition - 2021

Maker Notes

We've had some bright ideas here in Clermont, but none quite like this. Jim Beam Orange brings together the bright, juicy flavor of oranges fresh from the orchard. And the oak and light char of a bourbon aged just right in the rackhouse. This flavorful favorite is best enjoyed in a Jim Beam Orange Highball or fresh from a shot glass.

Aroma: Sweet orange citrus with bourbon’s light char and vanilla. 

Flavor: Juicy orange, fresh zest, hints of oak.

Zesty & Bright ORANGE LIQUEUR
When it comes to Jim Beam Orange, our master distillers are looking on the bright side of bourbon. This mix of orange liqueur and our Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey blends the flavors of juicy citrus with oaky bourbon undertones. It puts a fresh, bright shine on the classic taste of bourbon that's perfect for both summer sessions and simple shots.

Our Dulce Vida Lime Tequila is handcrafted from 100% blue agave, then infused and uniquely blended. Enjoy as a shot, on the rocks or simply add sparkling water.

UNDER 100 CALORIES PER 1.5 OZ SERVING | 100% PURO AGAVE | MADE WITH REAL LIME | GLUTEN FREE

24 months of maturation, Extra Aged for 3 additional months in a new barrel, perfecting its flavor.

Cava De Oro Extra Aged Anejo Black Tequila is a premium spirit renowned for its rich flavors of oak, caramel, and vanilla. Aged to perfection, it offers a bold and complex taste experience, making it a standout choice for tequila enthusiasts seeking luxury and sophistication in every sip.

Created in 1840, the "Liqueur de Santé" is the first liqueur made from the original recipe of the Elixir Végétal de la Grande Chartreuse. It was so popular that Father Garnier, attorney and responsible for the liqueurs at the time, later decided to officially name it 'Chartreuse Verte', and registered the “Chartreuse” mark in 1852. It is still produced and manufactured today by the Chartreux Fathers in their Aiguenoire distillery in Entre-Deux-Guiers (Isère - France).

TASTING NOTES

A Chartreuse green color, a powerful herbaceous, peppery nose.

A fresh palate with minty notes, pine sap and citrus fruits.

Bittersweet tea at the end of the mouth prolongs the tasting.

In 2006, Munich bartenders Stephan Berg and Alexander Hauck gave birth to the idea of producing handmade, classic cocktail bitters. Their goal was to introduce a new line of bitters that would allow mixologists, bartenders, and consumers everywhere to reach back in time and create traditional cocktails that were reminiscent of the drinks mixed centuries ago. Thus The Bitter Truth Co. was born. Tiki Lovers is the next logical step for the company a rum brand focused on blended rums with added character. The idea came about when Berg & Hauck came upon several subpar tropical Tiki cocktails during their travels. Berg has first-hand experience with rum making from his younger days, spent as a seafarer in the Caribbean, where he learned about distilling, blending, and mixing the popular spirit. His partner, a designer, bartender, and rum aficionado, has been a fan of Polynesian culture ever since visiting the famous Mai-Kai restaurant and venue in Fort Lauderdale, seeing the colorful dance performances, the carved statues, and experiencing Tiki drinks. Their White Rum consists of a blend of aged as well as unaged rum from the Caribbean. The groundwork is laid on Jamaican rum, distilled at the island's renowned Monymusk and Worthy Park distilleries. These are unaged and pot-distilled, creating a backbone of ester-heavy taste meaning banana and fruits. It is then blended by rum from Trinidad that has been aged for up to 5 years in ex-bourbon barrels and charcoal-filtered to rid it of its color. Before bottling, some clear column still rum is added, enriching the palate with complex fruity and floral notes. 

Barr Hill Vodka is our tribute to the hardworking beekeepers. In late summer, we take delivery of hundreds of barrels of their pure raw honey. Their season’s work is what makes our vodka truly special. Our recipe depends on two simple principles: we never heat the honey prior to fermentation and we never distill more than twice. Our technique preserves the wild yeast and the rich aromatics of nectar - delivering the floral depth of wildflower fields straight to your glass.

Distilled in 2008 and bottled in 2019, this single-cask whisky has spent more than 11 years in its first-fill American oak sherry puncheon. Hand-picked by Master Whisky Maker Gordon Motion and the founders of Scotch in the City.

A premium vintage Armagnac produced in the Gascony region of France. Armagnac is a type of brandy that is distilled from white wine grapes and aged in oak barrels. Château Arton is a renowned producer known for their exceptional Armagnacs, and the 2007 vintage is a testament to their commitment to craftsmanship and quality.

The 2007 vintage of Château Arton Haut Armagnac is known for its elegance, complexity, and depth of flavor. It is made from a blend of different grape varieties, including Ugni Blanc, Folle Blanche, and Baco, which are grown in the estate's vineyards. The grapes are carefully harvested and fermented before being distilled in traditional copper stills. This meticulous production process contributes to the distinct character of the Armagnac.

After distillation, the Armagnac is aged in oak barrels, allowing it to develop its rich flavors and aromas over time. The 2007 vintage has been aged for a minimum of 12 years, resulting in a well-matured spirit with a beautiful balance between the fruitiness of the grapes and the woody notes from the oak barrels.

Château Arton Haut Armagnac 2007 offers a complex bouquet of aromas, including dried fruits such as figs, prunes, and raisins, along with hints of vanilla, caramel, and toasted oak. On the palate, it delivers a harmonious blend of flavors, with notes of dried apricots, honey, cinnamon, and a subtle touch of spice. The mouthfeel is velvety and smooth, with a lingering finish that leaves a warm and satisfying sensation.

This vintage Armagnac is best enjoyed neat or with a splash of water to fully appreciate its intricate flavors and aromas. It can also be used as a base for classic cocktails, such as the Old Fashioned or the Sidecar, adding a sophisticated twist to these timeless drinks.

Château Arton Haut Armagnac 2007 is a testament to the expertise and dedication of the producers at Château Arton. It embodies the rich traditions of Armagnac production while showcasing the unique characteristics of the 2007 vintage. Whether sipped slowly and savored or used as a centerpiece in cocktails, this exceptional Armagnac promises a memorable and indulgent experience for spirits connoisseurs and enthusiasts alike.

At Duckhorn Vineyards, we have been making our Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc since 1982. Harvested from our estates and select Napa Valley vineyards, this rich and elegant Sauvignon Blanc was blended with Sémillon to add depth and complexity. Fermented and aged using both stainless steel and French oak, it offers ripe citrus and tropical flavors, refreshing acidity and Sémillon-driven silkiness.

WINE PROFILE

Production Notes

Varietal Composition: 84% Sauvignon Blanc, 16% Semillon

Winemaker Notes

This luxurious Sauvignon Blanc displays gorgeous aromas of mango, pineapple, Key lime pie and honeydew melon, as well as fragrant hints of orange blossom and elderflower. On the palate, a delicate, silky texture accentuates the generous tropical, citrus and stone fruit flavors, with energetic acidity and undercurrents of minerality carrying the wine to a bright, focused finish.

Production

In terms of overall weather, most of the 2020 growing season was excellent. Following a relatively dry winter, budbreak started early, and the temperatures throughout spring and summer were mild and temperate. This allowed the grapes to ripen slowly, developing pure, vibrant flavors and supple, fleshy textures. In late September, harvest was impacted by the outbreak of wildfires and the arrival of hot weather. The elevated temperatures gave many vineyards a final push to ripeness as we worked to bring in the grapes. During this period, we did extensive testing to ensure quality, excluding any fruit that did not meet our standards. While our meticulous selection process resulted in a smaller 2020 crop, the wines we produced live up to the Duckhorn name, displaying beautiful aromas, soft elegant textures, lively complexity and lush flavors.

WINE SPECS

Vintage: 2020
Varietal: Sauvignon Blanc
Appellation: Napa Valley
Acid: 0.55 g/100ml
pH: 3.45
Aging: Aged 5 months sur lie
Fermentation: 92% stainless steel, 8% new French oak
Alcohol: %13.5