Claridad Mezcal Espadín

Crafted in Bramaderos, Miahuatlán by fifth-generation maestro mezcalero Onofre Ortíz Ortíz, Claridad’s flagship Espadín is a masterclass in heritage-driven, ancestral mezcal production. Grown in Oaxaca's famed Miahuatlán region, the 100% Espadín agaves are roasted for three days in an oak-fired conical stone oven, crushed using a combination of hand-axe, machete, and a small mechanical grinder, and open-fermented with wild ambient yeasts and local well water in cypress wood tanks. Double-distilled in traditional copper alembic stills, this expressive mezcal perfectly honors time-tested methods, patience, and inherited craft with zero additives or shortcuts.

On the nose, it greets you with an inviting, delicate bouquet of soft clay, burnt cinnamon, subtle tropical fruit, fresh green herbs, and unripened banana. The surprising and bold palate leaps to life with vibrant notes of fragrant jasmine, earth-bound parsnip and yam, freshly cracked coriander, and sweet yellow flowers, anchored by a whisper of smoky char. Dry, herbaceous, floral, and deeply complex with a velvety mouthfeel, it is an extraordinary bottle to sip neat or showcase in an elevated agave cocktail.

• Producer: Claridad
• Region: Oaxaca, Mexico
• Spirit: Mezcal
• Alcohol: 45.5%