Mezcal is a distillate produced with a plant called Agave.
There are many species of Agave, ~ 200 species,
~ 30 are used to produce mezcal,
yet, only 12 species account for ~ 99% of certified mezcal*.
Learn about the 12 principal agaves to appreciate mezcal…
12 AGAVE REGIONS
Browse to explore the principal agave regions, examine its differences and special characteristics
Espadín
A. angustifolia
Verde
A. salmiana
Cenizo
A. durangensis
Ancho
A. cupreata
Tobalá
A. potatorum
Azul
A. tequilana
Verde
A. scabraa
Cuishe
A. karwinskii
Coyote
A. americana oaxacensis
Jabalí
A. convallis
Pichumel
A. marmorata
Mexicano
A. rhodacantha
Maguey Espadín
A. angustifolia
'Espadín' Region
Area where maguey 'Espadín' ( A. angustifolia) grows in Mexico. Brown fading represents density of plants in an area.
'Mezcal' Denomination of origin
Area where a distillate produced with an agave can be legally labelled as mezcal.
Political Boundary
'Espadín' info
- ~86% of all certified mezcal produced in 2019 was made with ‘espadín’ (a. angustifolia). Its popularity among mezcal fans comes from its easiness to drink, among mezcaleros due to its high yield.
- Extends over an area in Mexico roughly equivalent in size to the province of British Columbia in Canada.
- 1 to 2m height
- June to August (Flowering season)
- 6 to 8 years (Life expectancy / maturity)
- 30-1770 meters above sea level
Maguey Verde
A. salmiana
'Verde' Region
Area where maguey 'Verde' ( A. salmiana) grows in Mexico. Brown fading represents density of plants in an area.
'Mezcal' Denomination of origin
Area where a distillate produced with an agave can be legally labelled as mezcal.
Political Boundary
'Verde' info
- Less than 1% of all certified mezcal produced in 2019 was made with ‘verde’ (a. salmiana). Pleasingly floral, it is unique among mezcals because it is usually not smoky, due to its production process.
- Distributed over an area in Mexico roughly equivalent in size to Germany.
- 1.5 to 2.5m height
- April to June (Flowering season)
- 12 to 16 years (Life expectancy / maturity)
- 300-2400 meters above sea level
Maguey Cenizo
A. durangensis
'Cenizo' Region
Area where maguey 'Cenizo' ( A. durangensis) grows in Mexico. Brown fading represents density of plants in an area.
'Mezcal' Denomination of origin
Area where a distillate produced with an agave can be legally labelled as mezcal.
Political Boundary
'Cenizo' info
- ~2% of all certified mezcal produced in 2019 was made with ‘cenizo’ (a. durangensis). Durango produces mezcal with several agave varieties, yet 'cenizo' is the local favorite.
- Distributed in Mexico over an area roughly equivalent in size to the state of New York in the USA.
- 0.7 to 1.8m height
- March to May (Flowering season)
- 10 to 12 years (Life expectancy / maturity)
- 650-2560 meters above sea level
Maguey Ancho
A. cupreata
'Ancho' Region
Area where maguey 'Ancho' ( A. cupreata) grows in Mexico. Brown fading represents density of plants in an area.
'Mezcal' Denomination of origin
Area where a distillate produced with an agave can be legally labelled as mezcal.
Political Boundary
'Ancho' info
- ~3% of all certified mezcal produced in 2019 was made with ‘ancho’ (a. cupreata). It is a mezcal known by its sweetness and complexity. The mezcal of choice in Guerrero and Michoacán.
- Extends over an area in Mexico roughly equivalent in size to the state of Washington in the USA.
- 0.7 to 1.8m height
- March to June (Flowering season)
- 10 to 12 years (Life expectancy / maturity)
- 650-2560 meters above sea level
Maguey Tobalá
A. potatorum
'Tobalá' Region
Area where maguey 'Tobalá' ( A. potatorum) grows in Mexico. Brown fading represents density of plants in an area.
'Mezcal' Denomination of origin
Area where a distillate produced with an agave can be legally labelled as mezcal.
Political Boundary
'Tobalá' info
- ~2% of all certified mezcal produced in 2019 was made with ‘tobalá’ (a. potatorum). Revered by many aficionados and mezcaleros in Oaxaca - where most mezcal is made in Mexico.
- Extends over an area in Mexico roughly equivalent in size to the state of Illinois in the USA.
- 0.3 to 0.5 m height
- September to November (Flowering season)
- 10 to 12 years (Life expectancy / maturity)
- 300-2600 meters above sea level
Maguey Azul
A. tequilana
'Azul' Region
Area where maguey 'Azul' ( A. tequilana) grows in Mexico. Brown fading represents density of plants in an area.
'Mezcal' Denomination of origin
Area where a distillate produced with an agave can be legally labelled as mezcal.
Political Boundary
'Azul' info
- Less than 1% of all certified mezcal produced in 2019 was made with ‘azul’ (a. tequilana). Perhaps the most famous of mezcals as it is the agave used for tequila, for some it is even better in its artisanal form.
- Extends over an area in Mexico roughly equivalent in size to the United Kingdom.
- 1.5 to 2m height
- May to July (Flowering season)
- 8 to 10 years (Life expectancy / maturity)
- 300-1585 meters above sea level
Maguey Verde
A. scabraa
'Verde' Region
Area where maguey 'Verde' ( A. scabraa) grows in Mexico. Brown fading represents density of plants in an area.
'Mezcal' Denomination of origin
Area where a distillate produced with an agave can be legally labelled as mezcal.
Political Boundary
'Verde' info
- No liters of certified mezcal were produced in 2019 with ‘verde’ (a. scabraa). An astounding mezcal that is nowadays available only in small batches locally.
- Extends over an area in Mexico roughly equivalent in size to the province of New South Wales in Australia.
- 1 to 2 m height*
- March to May (Flowering season)
- 10 to 12 years (Life expectancy / maturity)
- 500-2500 meters above sea level
Maguey Cuishe
A. karwinskii
'Cuishe' Region
Area where maguey 'Cuishe' ( A. karwinskii) grows in Mexico. Brown fading represents density of plants in an area.
'Mezcal' Denomination of origin
Area where a distillate produced with an agave can be legally labelled as mezcal.
Political Boundary
'Cuishe' info
- ~2% of all certified mezcal produced in 2019 was made with ‘cuishe’ (a. karwinskii). It is a mezcal with unmistakable identity, the favorite of many enthusiasts.
- Extends over an area in Mexico roughly equivalent in size to Ireland.
- 0.6 to 1.5 m height
- 10 to 12 years (Life expectancy / maturity)
- August to October (Flowering season)
- 400-1500 meters above sea level
Maguey Coyote
A. americana oaxacensis
'Coyote' Region
Area where maguey 'Coyote' ( A. americana oaxacensis) grows in Mexico. Brown fading represents density of plants in an area.
'Mezcal' Denomination of origin
Area where a distillate produced with an agave can be legally labelled as mezcal.
Political Boundary
'Coyote' info
- Less than 1% of all certified mezcal produced in 2019 was made with ‘coyote’ or some other variety of agave americana. An adaptable agave that lives in varied ecosystems, produces very interesting mezcals that vary in their flavors.
- Extends over an area in Mexico roughly equivalent in size to the state of New Mexico in the USA.
- 1.5 to 2.5 m height
- 8 to 10 years (Life expectancy / maturity)
- February to April (Flowering season). Agave americana var. oaxacensis rarely flowers, reproduction occurs through bulbils
- 0-2325 meters above sea level
Maguey Jabalí
A. convallis
'Jabalí' Region
Area where maguey 'Jabalí' ( A. convallis) grows in Mexico. Brown fading represents density of plants in an area.
'Mezcal' Denomination of origin
Area where a distillate produced with an agave can be legally labelled as mezcal.
Political Boundary
'Jabalí' info
- Less than 1% of all certified mezcal produced in 2019 was made with ‘jabalí’ (a. convallis). One of the most difficult agaves to convert into mezcal, it is rare and appreciated by those who have tasted it.
- Extends over an area in Mexico roughly equivalent in size to Iceland.
- 1 to 1.5 m height*
- 10 to 13 years (Life expectancy / maturity)
- June to August (Flowering season)
- 1000-2000 meters above sea level
Maguey Pichumel
A. marmorata
'Pichumel' Region
Area where maguey 'Pichumel' ( A. marmorata) grows in Mexico. Brown fading represents density of plants in an area.
'Mezcal' Denomination of origin
Area where a distillate produced with an agave can be legally labelled as mezcal.
Political Boundary
'Pichumel' info
- ~1% of all certified mezcal produced in 2019 was made with ‘pichumel’ (a. marmorata). Known in Oaxaca as Tepeztate, it has a cult following. Great mezcals, whose minerality set them apart from the rest.
- Extends over an area in Mexico roughly equivalent in size to the Netherlands.
- 1 to 2 m height
- 25 to 35 years (Life expectancy / maturity)
- March to May (Flowering season)
- 340-2112 meters above sea level
Maguey Mexicano
A. rhodacantha
'Mexicano' Region
Area where maguey 'Mexicano' ( A. rhodacantha) grows in Mexico. Brown fading represents density of plants in an area.
'Mezcal' Denomination of origin
Area where a distillate produced with an agave can be legally labelled as mezcal.
Political Boundary
'Mexicano' info
- Less than 1% of all certified mezcal produced in 2019 was made with ‘mexicano’ (a. rhodacantha). Another mezcal that has its own followers, all in love with the flavor complexity of a very rare mezcal.
- Extends over an area in Mexico roughly equivalent in size to Spain.
- 1.7 to 2.5 m height
- 10 to 14 years (Life expectancy / maturity)
- May to July (Flowering season)
- 1400-2200 meters above sea level
12 LEGENDARY MAESTROS
Let us introduce some of the best mezcaleros, that we have met in the principal agave regions
'Leo'
'Che'
'Ventura'
'Chícharo'
'Aarón'
'Don Lupe'
'Gil'
'Don Catarino'
'Ángel'
'Tucho'
'El Güero'
'Don Francisco'
'Espadín'
Online Store
'Leo' Hernández
- 1 / ~ (500 <) mezcaleros that work with ‘Espadin’
- ~ 20 years’ experience
- 5th generation
- Sierra del Sur, México
- San Baltazar Guelavila, Oaxaca
'Che' Hernández
- 1 / ~ (30 <) mezcaleros that work with ‘Manso’
- ~ 25 years’ experience
- 2nd generation
- Central High Plateau, México
- Santa Isabel, San Luis Potosí
'Ventura' Gallegos
- 1 / ~ (40 <) mezcaleros that work with ‘Cenizo’
- ~ 20 years’ experience
- 2nd generation
- Central High Plateau, México
- Nombre de Dios, Durango
'Ancho'
Online Store
'Chícharo' Obregón
- 1 / ~ (300 <) mezcaleros that work with ‘Ancho’
- ~ 15 years’ experience
- 3rd generation
- Sierra Madre Occidental, México
- Mazatlán, Guerrero
'Aarón' Robles
- 1 / ~ (200 <) mezcaleros that work with ‘Tobalá’
- ~ 15 years’ experience
- 1st generation
- Sierra del Sur, México
- San Pedro Totolapam, Oaxaca
'Azul'
Online Store
'Don Lupe' Pérez
- 1 / ~ (100 <) mezcaleros that work with ‘Azul’ (D.O.)
- ~ 20 years’ experience
- 1st generation
- Sierra Madre Occidental, México
- Tzitzio, Michoacan
'Gil' Roldán
- 1 / ~ (20 <) mezcaleros that work with ‘Verde’
- ~ 20 years’ experience
- 4th generation
- Central High Plateau, México
- Nombre de Dios, Durango
'Don Catarino' Hernández
- 1 / ~ (100 <) mezcaleros that work with ‘Cuishe’
- ~ 50 years’ experience
- 1rd generation
- Sierra Madre del Sur, México
- San Jerónimo Taviche, Oaxaca
'Angel' Cruz
- 1 / ~ (20 <) mezcaleros that work with ‘Coyote’
- ~ 10 years’ experience
- 5th generation
- Sierra Madre del Sur, México
- Sola de Vega, Oaxaca
'Tucho' Hernández
- 1 / ~ (20 <) mezcaleros that work with ‘Jabalí’
- ~ 20 years’ experience
- 5th generation
- Sierra del Sur, México
- San Baltazar Guelavila, Oaxaca
'El Güero' Ortega
- 1 / ~ (50 <) mezcaleros that work with ‘Pichumel’
- ~ 20 years’ experience
- 3rd generation
- Sierra Madre Oriental, México
- San Luis Atotlotitlán, Puebla
'Don Francisco' García León
- 1 / ~ (40 <) mezcaleros that work with ‘Mexicano’
- ~ 40 years’ experience
- 3rd generation
- Sierra del Sur, México
- Miahuatlán, Oaxaca
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