Pechuga has a nose of basil, lemon, ocean, and fruit. It is almost scotch-like in its smoky taste. And yes, in addition it is salty, very soft, and tastes a wee bit like chicken. The Pechuga production season is limited to year end due to the special ingredients: Wild mountain apples and plums that must be in season and cannot be substituted. This mezcal is the most rare we have ever encountered.

The Ancestral Collection is a selected line of limited edition Mezcals. Every production is crafted in micro batches with ancestral distillation methods original from the state of Durango: Clay & Wood. Every bottle is a pice of art, as they are hand painted by local artists, with different designs depending the agave type.

This line include special Mezcals made with rare and unique agave varieties that are found within the Durango borders.

The first edition of our collection of Mezcal Burrito Fiestero Ancestral is made with Agave Masparillo, found in the lower areas of El Mezquital, Durango. Wild and scarce, this small maguey has very short and wide leaves, with a yellowish green color. It has a 1.5 to 2 m. diameter and 1 m. height, delivering piñas that weigh 70 kg. in average.

The first edition of our collection of Mezcal Burrito Fiestero Ancestral is made with Agave Masparillo, found in the lower areas of El Mezquital, Durango. Wild and scarce, this small maguey has very short and wide leaves, with a yellowish-green color. It has a 1.5 to 2 m. diameter and 1 m. height, delivering piñas that weighs 70 kg. on average.

Banhez Arroqueño is comprised of 100% arroqueño agave, an enormous species taking up to 25 years to reach full maturity and found only in rural regions of Oaxaca. This delightful mezcal is earthy and dark, with subtle smoke and underlying sweetness.

AGAVE: AMERICANA OAXACENSIS

MAESTRO: APOLONIO PATRICIO LOPEZ

ORIGEN: SAN AUGUSTÍN AMATENGO

ELEVACIÓN: 4480 FT/ 1365 M

FERMENTACIÓN: LEVADURA NATURAL, 5-6 DIAS

DESTILACIÓN: COBRE

Banhez Pechuga de Pavo  is comprised of 100% Espadín distilled with indigenous seasonal fruits and raw turkey breast placed in  a copper still outfitted with a refrescadora. This unique single distillation technique imparts deliciously balanced fruit aromas, while preserving the agave’s roasted flavors. The addition of the turkey, along with being culturally  significant, adds  a spectacular textural complexity into this special spirit. Versions of “distilados con pechuga” has been consumed across Oaxaca on special occasions for centuries. 

AGAVE: ANGUSTIFOLIA

MAESTRO: JUAN OSORIO

ORIGEN: SAN VICENTE COATLAN

ELEVACIÓN: 4,705 FT / 1379 M - 5708 FT/1740 M

FERMENTACIÓN: LEVADERUA NATURAL 6 DIAS 

Mezcal Amaras Lodge

Mystical and enigmatic, Amarás Logia is a brand that appreciates and values ​​each solar cycle in small and unrepeatable batches of mezcal, embracing the knowledge of centuries of heritage and tradition with a clear intention: to protect the agave as a species. To do this, we created a reforestation program that embodies our commitment to maintain the biodiversity of all wild agaves in mezcal-producing regions. Logia is an ode to the unattainable, the select and the rare, perfectly defining our agaves and their importance as a sacred plant. Its limited and collectible editions are specially selected for those who love to discover, in sips, details that move the soul.

Amarás Logia Sierra Negra invites the most exquisite palates to try citrus and herbal aromas with light and spicy notes that blend into a sweet finish.

• Made by hand with 12-year-old wild A. americana agave.
  
• Due to the minimal viability of its seeds, its production is limited to 2,000 liters per year.
  
• His recipe includes pink peppercorns, pirul fruits, and red chili peppers in combination with the oak wood used to cook the agave.

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 Bacon Pechuga (2021 Limited Edition)

Must-have for any serious mezcal collector. This Bacon Pechuga Mezcal is an all-women collaboration and 2021 Limited Release between Erstwhile Mezcal and the Hernández Women Mezcaleras from Santiago Matatlán, Oaxaca.  Only 300 liters made.  Ripe mango, guava, pineapple, and bacon locally sourced in Oaxaca are the star ingredients.  Three distillations total.  Bacon is slow-steamed in the still for the last two distillations, giving an amazing creamy and smooth texture to each sip.⁠

Crafted in the enchanting landscapes of Oaxaca, Los Ocotales Cirial Mezcal encapsulates the heart and soul of Mexican tradition. Made from the revered agave Cirial, this mezcal undergoes a meticulous process. Hand-harvested piñas are slow-roasted in earthen pits, imparting smoky, earthy flavors. Naturally fermented and double-distilled, it reveals a complex palate of smoky, fruity, and earthy notes. This mezcal celebrates Mexican heritage, offering a rich experience that captures the essence of the land and culture it represents.

Yuu Baal Tepeztate features delightful herbal nuances derived from wild plants and cooked flowers. Crafted from the mature wild agave Tepeztate, which requires up to 35 years to reach full maturity, this spirit offers dry herbal tones accompanied by a touch of hot spice, cara cara orange, and subtle floral undertones in the distance. The finish is marked by a hint of smoke, while a lingering moderate agave sweetness persists on the palate. Suitable for a variety of occasions, it serves excellently as an appetizer or pairs harmoniously with a diverse range of regional, national, and international cuisines.