Erstwhile Tepeztate is a 2021 Ancestral Limited Release made from wild Tepeztate agave by mezcalero Silverio García Luis in Oaxaca, distilled in clay pots and bottled at 48% ABV.
It is a legacy of the era when mezcal production was illegal in Oaxaca, rescuing a García family tradition forgotten for more than forty years. Silverio's father, Don Lencho, used a hollowed-out quiote, the flowering stalk of the agave, instead of a copper turbante, to evade the soldiers who came to seize distillation equipment by force.
This batch revives that method, with clay-pot distillation and a distillation tube made from quiote rather than metal, offering a taste of a nearly lost piece of mezcal history.
With its colourful illustrated label and remarkable backstory, it is a collector's gift for agave lovers.
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.
Tasting Notes
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Agave: Wild Tepeztate.
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Still: Clay pot with a quiote tube.
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Maker: Silverio García Luis.
Specifications
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Producer: Silverio García Luis for Erstwhile
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Style: Ancestral Agave Spirit, Joven, Limited Edition 2021
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Agave: Tepeztate
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Distillation: Clay pot, quiote tube
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Proof / ABV: 96 proof (48% ABV)
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Region: Oaxaca, Mexico
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Size: 750ml
How to Enjoy It
Sip it neat from a copita at room temperature. It pairs with orange slices, grilled vegetables or mole.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is unusual about the still?
It uses a hollowed agave flower stalk, a quiote, instead of a copper tube.
Who made it?
Mezcalero Silverio García Luis.
Is it mezcal?
It is labelled as an agave spirit, made by the ancestral method.
Explore more in our Tequila collection.
