Erstwhile Tepeztate Joven Ancestral Limited Edition 2021 750 ml

Erstwhile Tepeztate Joven Ancestral Limited Edition 2021 is a small-batch mezcal from Erstwhile in Oaxaca, Mexico, made from wild Tepeztate agave that can take fifteen to twenty-five years to mature in the highlands before harvest. It's produced by the ancestral method: the agave is roasted in an earthen pit, crushed by hand or tahona, fermented with native yeasts, and distilled in clay pots rather than copper stills, which leaves the spirit unaged and full of raw character. The nose leans earthy and green with wild herbs and a mineral edge; the palate carries smoke, citrus peel, and a savory, vegetal streak that's distinctly Tepeztate. This bottling suits drinkers who already know mezcal and want something wilder than an Espadin.

How to drink Erstwhile Tepeztate Joven

Pour it neat in a copita or small tumbler and take it in slow sips so the smoke and green agave notes unfold — ice mutes what makes this one interesting. If you want to stretch it, build a simple mezcal paloma with grapefruit soda and a pinch of salt.

Mezcal