Intro
Nación de las Verdes Matas is a new project that is focused on bringing small batch agave spirits from the northwestern Mexican states of Nuevo Leon, Durango, and Tamaulipas to light while fostering their continued survival.
They are uncertified by the CRM and labeled as “spirits distilled from agave” even if their makers may consider them as traditional mezcals. They do have a NOM, NOM 142, which is a catch all for all Mexican spirits that don’t have another NOM. And, the distillers are known as “maestros vinateros” instead of maestros mezcaleros.
Details
- Location: El Mezquital, Durango
- Agave: Cenizo, A. durangensis
- Maestro Mezcalero: Federico de la Cruz
- Quantity: 120 liters
- ABV: 50%
- Tasting Keywords: Guajillo peppers, cinnamon.
- NOM: NOM 142
- Buy it today
Nose
This comes across as really vegetal with notes of dried peppers, fresh cut jalapeno, and even a touch of bubble gum.
Taste
It is really spicy with notes of black pepper, cinnamon, clove, and guajillo balanced out by agave sugars. It’s fresh and spicy.
Method
This was first crushed by hand with an axe and then run through a shredder. The rear label says that it was fermented in “Pine wood lined batteries” but don’t worry, no car batteries were used in the production of this mezcal. It’s a mis-translation because they fermented the mash in pine boxes underground, a common technique in Northern Mexico which is also used by many Sotoleros in Chihuahua and adjacent states.
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