SC - Spirits Portfolio

AGAVE MEZCAL

DON AMADO MEXICO, OAXACA Eleven generations of continual mezcal distillation with a legendary commitment to craftsmanship and experimentation have culminated in a spirit that is simultaneously complex and approachable. Don Amado is made from earthen-roasted maguey hearts which are, after crushing, fermented together with their piña fibers for a rich maguey character.The mash is then double distilled in small traditional ceramic clay pots. Don Amado Rústico 94PF / 750ML The flagship expression of the Real de Minas Distillery, Don Amado Rústico is made using the historic method of slowly roasting fully mature Espadín maguey hearts on firewood embers before natural fermentation with airborne yeast, followed by a slow double-distillation in ceramic pot stills. The minero clay-pot still is quite prevalent on the nose with aromatics leaning towards ash, crushed walnuts, roasted corn, and savory spices. A bright, citrus Espadín agave palate is well balanced against notes of caramel, butterscotch, and fresh herbs. Don Amado Añejo 87PF / 750ML A regal take on what many consider to be an essentially rustic distillate, Don Amado Añejo shows amazing complexity beyond simple smoke, and is a great example how barrel flavors can complement rather than mask agave’s wild charms. Don Amado Reposado 92PF / 750ML An homage to the popular history of Oaxacan clay-pot mezcal aged in brandy barrels, Don Amado Reposado uses exhausted brandy barrels from Pedro Domecq to create a nostalgic flavor of earthen-smoked maguey with the soft caramel and butterscotch notes of American white oak. *Aged varieties are matured in American oak casks previously used for barreling Pedro Domecq brandy. Don Amado Arroqueño 92PF / 750ML Rustic and refined, Don Amado Arroqueño is made from an enormous maguey species that requires 18 years to mature but is cultivatable, so ecologically sustainable while simultaneously wildly exotic and delicious. Bright floral aromatics of caramelized maguey, leather and soft smoke lend structure to ripe, cooked yam fruit flavors. Don Amado Pechuga 92PF / 750ML An autumn ‘harvest bounty’ mezcal, Don Amado Pechuga is a third distillation of our Don Amado Rústico, made with the addition of seasonal fruits, nuts and spices including apricots, wild criollo apples, hard, stubby bananas with clove, cinnamon, raisins, almonds, and walnuts. A treasure of complexity that exhibits rich, bright fruit notes, roasted nuts, dark baking spice, wafting hints of clean smoke, fresh cinnamon, and stone fruits.

MEZCAL DE LEYENDAS MEXICO, OAXACA Offering a collection of artisanal mezcales from different states from the Denomination of Origin of Mezcal. Mezcal de Leyendas Cuixe Oaxaca 2018 92PF / 750ML An ultra-premium and incredibly rare mezcal. Harvesting Cuixe agave is extremely difficult and takes 12-15 years to grow to maturity. Since it takes so long to ripen, and harvesting only happens for three months out of the year, production of this mezcal is all the more unique and limited. Mezcal de Leyendas Puebla 96PF / 750ML Sustainable harvested agave from northern valleys of Puebla. This agave potatorum, commonly known as Tobalá is called Cenizo in Puebla. This is the largest field of sustainably cultivated maguey tobalá in Mexico, thanks to the vision of the Alva family. Mezcal de Leyendas San Luis Potosi 84PF / 750ML In this rocky arid land, few agaves grow as well as the salmiana. Known as Verde, this wild agave from the San Luis Potosi central plateau has one of the most unique flavor profiles of any agave. TEQUILA: must be made in one of the 5 certified states in Mexico MEZCAL: can be made in one of 10 approved states in Mexico, but is most broadly produced in Oaxaca state. WHY ARE THEY DIFFERENT?: 1 . They’re made with different kinds of agave. Tequila must be made exclusively from Blue Weber Agave (Agave Tequilana). Mezcal can be made from more than 30 varieties of agave, the most common being tobalá, tobaziche, tepeztate, arroqueño and espadín, which is the most common agave and accounts for up to 90% of mezcal. 2 . They’re distilled differently. Both tequila and mezcal are made from the harvested core of the agave plant, otherwise known as the “piña.” However, that’s where the similarities in production end. Tequila is typically produced by steaming the agave inside industrial ovens before being distilled two or three times in copper pots. Mezcal, on the other hand, is cooked inside earthen pits that are lined with lava rocks and filled with wood and charcoal before being distilled in clay pots. While some large-scale mezcal producers have adopted modern methods, artisanal mezcal makers continue to use this more traditional method, which is the source of the smokiness commonly associated with mezcal. — Food & Wine Regions / Map Varietals Technically all tequila is a type of mezcal, but not all mezcal is a tequila...

SOUTHCAROLINA SPIRITS PORTFOLIO

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