Erstwhile Tobalá 2021 Ancestral Limited Edition is a rare joven mezcal made by master mezcalero Juan Abel Quiroz Agustín in Santa María Sola, Oaxaca, distilled exclusively in clay pots and bottled at 44% ABV in a 375ml bottle.
Only 200 litres were made. The release marked Juan Abel's debut in the United States. Ripe agaves were slow-roasted for days in an earthen oven, then naturally fermented with wild native yeasts in open cypress-wood vats before distillation in clay pot stills, the ancestral way.
Tobalá is a small wild agave prized among mezcal lovers. This edition is packed with caramel, banana and tropical fruit.
A true collector's bottle, it makes a rare gift for mezcal enthusiasts.
Sip it slowly from a copita at room temperature.
Mezcal is made by roasting agave hearts, traditionally in earthen pits, then crushing, fermenting and distilling them, a process that gives the spirit its characteristic smoky depth. Each agave variety and each village brings its own character, which is why enthusiasts love exploring small-batch bottlings.
Mezcal and other agave spirits are traditionally sipped from a copita or a small clay cup, in small sips, often alongside orange slices dusted with sal de gusano. Many are made in tiny batches by individual families, so each bottle is a snapshot of a particular place, agave and season.
The ancestral mezcal category requires traditional tools: agave cooked in earthen pits, hand crushing and distillation in clay pots, with no metal stills.
A copita is a small, shallow cup that lets mezcal's aromas open up as you sip.
Tasting Notes
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Fruit: Banana and tropical fruit.
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Sweetness: Caramel.
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Process: Earthen oven, cypress vats, clay pot stills.
Specifications
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Producer: Erstwhile (Juan Abel Quiroz Agustín)
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Style: Mezcal Ancestral, Joven, 2021 limited edition
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Agave: Tobalá
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Proof / ABV: 88 proof (44% ABV)
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Region: Santa María Sola, Oaxaca, Mexico
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Size: 375ml
How to Enjoy It
Sip it neat from a copita at room temperature. It pairs with tropical fruit, orange slices or fresh cheese.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much was made?
Only 200 litres.
How is it distilled?
Exclusively in clay pot stills.
Who made it?
Master mezcalero Juan Abel Quiroz Agustín in Santa María Sola, Oaxaca.
Explore more in our Tequila collection.
