Alipus
Lovingly selected premium artisanal mezcals hand- distilled in family distilleries in rural pueblos in the state of Oaxaca,in southwest Mexico.
Alipús pueblos are remote, reached only on dirt roads. Small artisanal distilleries preserve – uncorrupted – the traditional centuries-old ways of distilling mezcal. These family distilleries are very old-fashioned operations. Some still lack stone mills, and crush the roasted agaves by hand, using long-handled wooden mallets, in canoas, hollowed out logs; others distill in potstills made from clay. The process is slow and labor- intensive. The process is tied into the agave itself, tied into the pueblo where the mezcal is distilled, tied into local and regional methods handed down for generations. It is hand crafted by mezcalero Don Valente Angel in San Andrés, Oaxaca
San Balthazar 47.7%
'Alipus San Baltazar is a great espadin mezcal that is produced by Don Cosme Hernandez and his son Cirilo. They ferment their mezcal in very old pine vats. Alipus San Baltazar is soft, well-fruited with good minerality. The San Baltazar is the most popular Alipus mezcal in Mexico, making it more rare to come by here in Australia.
San Baltazar has an altitude of 4100 feet and is rolling hilly countryside. The soils are light (calciferous) and shaly/rocky.'
San Andres 47.9%
'Alipus Ensamble was first released in the US in mid-2016. There have been subsequent releases since. It is hand crafted by mezcalero Don Valente Angel in San Andrés, Oaxaca and it contains many of the signature qualities that one expects when drinking mezcal made by this master mezcalero.
This Alipus San Andres ensemble mezcal was originally going to replace the single agave San Andres espadin. This release is made from 90% espadin and 10% bicuishe.'
San Luis 47%
'Alipus San Luis espadin mezcal is produced using 100% agave espadin from the surrounding area of the palenque which is approx 1550m above sea level. The soil is sandy and rocky and the climate is hot giving this mezcal some intense flavour.'
San Juan 47.8%
'This Alipus San Juan del Rio mezcal is an espadin mezcal owned by the Cruz family. The Cruz distilery has four copper pots. It’s a co-op: the whole clan makes use of them, and so do several outsiders.
This mezcal is distinguished by the conditions of the plants location in reddish and white soils, and long fermentation periods, which will mark the mineral and chalky tones.'
San Miguel 47.5%
'Alipus Destilado en Barro is an incredibly special and rare mezcal. It is classified as ancestral mezcal (in short, no metal is used throughout production) and is distilled in clay pot stills which give it an incredible depth of character. It is also one of 3 varieties released under the same label. Each variety is produced by a different mezcalero. The lable on the neck of the bottle identifies the producer - in this case Tio Felix (Uncle Felix).'
Los Danzantes Mezcal was created with the establishment of a small mud-brick distillery in 1997 in Santiago Matatlan, in Oaxaca’s Tlacolula Valley by brothers Jaimé and Gustavo Muñoz, owners of the award-winning Los Danzantes Restaurants in Oaxaca City and Coyoácan, Mexico City.
Blanco Joven 43%
Los Danzantes (Los Nahuales) Espadin is traditionally made with farm-grown agave Espadin. The cooked agave is ground in a Chilean tahona that is pulled by a horse. It’s fermented in pine tubs, slowly and naturally (without accelerators), and with classical music to aid the cycle of microorganisms. It’s double-distilled in copper stills.
Reposado 43%
Los Danzantes (Los Nahuales) Reposado is made with agave Espadin in Santiago Matatlan by Mezcalera Karina Abad Rojas. This mezcal is traditionally produced. After distillation, 66% of this mezcal is aged in French Oak barrels, and 33% is aged in American White Oak. After 9 months resting in these barrels, this mezcal is then bottled.
Anejo 45.9%
Los Danzantes (Los Nahuales) Anejo is made with agave espadin in Santiago Matatlan by mezcalera Karina Abad Rojas. After distillation, 85% of this mezcal is aged in French Oak barrels, and 15% is aged in American White Oak. After 16 months resting in these barrels, this mezcal is then bottled.
In the highlands of southern Mexico, the renowned Arellanes family has been crafting one of the region's most celebrated mezcals since the late 1700s.
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. Aged varieties are matured in American oak casks previously used for barreling Pedro Domecq brandy.
Reposado Mezcal 45%
Paying 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 flavour of earthen-smoked maguey with the soft caramel and butterscotch notes of American white oak.
In the highlands of southern Mexico, the renowned Arellanes family has been crafting one of the region's most celebrated mezcals since the late 1700s.
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 fibres for a rich maguey character. The mash is then double distilled in small traditional ceramic clay pots. Aged varieties are matured in American oak casks previously used for barrelling Pedro Domecq brandy.
Rustico Mezcal 47%
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 and a slow double-distillation in ceramic pot stills.
Anejo Mezcal 43.5%
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 flavours can complement rather than mask agave’s wild charms.
Tequila ArteNOM presents distillers' selections of regional distinction.
These limited release Selecciones celebrate the best of tequila craftsmanship by highlighting the agave cultivation altitude, soil and masterful distillation techniques of different tequila-producing regions.
‘1414’ Reposado Tequilo 40%
'The Vivanco family began cultivating highland agave during Mexico’s tumultuous post-revolutionary period of 1919-1929. In Don Feliciano Vivanco’s hometown of Arandas, Jalisco, subsequent generations of Vivancos have remained devoted to expanding the family’s agave plantations, and in 1994, the family dream of acquiring their own distillery was finally realized with the purchase of Destilería El Ranchito. With approximately 2,000 acres of estate-grown agave at their disposal, Sergio & José Manuél Vivanco have become renowned for producing rich, well-balanced tequilas. For ArteNOM Selección de 1414, the family brings back their unique and extraordinary tradition of fermenting the agave mash with field-extracted wild yeast for an unparalled display of agave terroir.
Independently bottled reposado Tequila from ArteNOM, who specialise in bottling distiller's selections of Tequila, each with regional distinction. Selección de 1414 is produced at Distileria El Ranchito in the highlands of Jalisco. It showcases the estate's agave which is grown at a high elevation, combined with the expertise of chief distillers, Sergio & José Manuél Vivanco. Very nice indeed, smooth and sippable with good earthy depth, this is top notch Tequila right here!'
The Master distiller of 1414 is Sergio Cruz
‘1579’ Blanco Tequilo 40%
'At 6,788 feet above sea level in the remote mountain town of Jesús María, Felipe Camarena masterfully crafts this bright, aromatic Blanco Clásico tequila from stressed hillside agave plants grown in tequila’s highest-altitude agave region. Felipe’s Destilería El Pandillo is arguably one of the most forward-thinking, innovative and sustainable distilleries in the business. After select harvesting, the agave plants are slowly roasted in brick ovens and macerated intact with their fibers for a richer, fuller flavor. Following fermentation with rainwater, Felipe slowly distills this selección in small copper pot stills and aerates the spirit prior to bottling.
Top quality Tequila, independently bottled by ArteNOM, which is on a mission to seek out select expressions with distinctive heritage and character. This classic blanco was crafted by master distiller Felipe Camarena at Destilería El Pandillo, in the high altitude mountain town of Jesús María, Jalisco. Rainwater is used in the fermentation process, before slow distillation in small copper stills. Wonderfully creamy with gentle spice, this is a dreamy Tequila indeed!'
The Master distiller of 1579 is Felipe Camarena
ArteNOM Selección de 1579 Blanco
“96 points... BRILLIANT BALANCE, LINGERING FINISH.” — Forrest Cokely, distiller.com
‘1146’ Anejo Tequilo 40%
'At Tequileña in the eponymous town of Tequila, Jalisco, home to a range of celebrated tequilas, Master Distiller Enrique Fonseca distills agave predominantly grown in and around his highland hometown of Atotonilco el Alto. For this añejo expression, Enrique ages select tequilas initially in used Cabernet Franc wine barrels from the Loire Valley of France for a minimum of 14 months. The tequila is then extracted from the French oak and laid into toasted American white oak previously used to age either Canadian whiskey or Tennessee rye whiskey, for a minimum of 14 additional months, for a truly masterful balance of oak and agave flavors.
A wonderful añejo Tequila, produced at the Tequileña Distillery in Atotonilco El Alto, Jalisco. Using agave grown at mid-slope elevation, the Tequila is aged for an initial period in Cabernet Franc wine barrels, before being transferred to ex Canadian and Tennessee rye whiskey casks for further maturation! Masterfully balanced and with plenty of complexity, this is a most enjoyable añejo.
It was released as part of the ArteNOM range, which explores Tequilas from a selection of distilleries.'
The Master distiller of 1146 is Enrique Fonseca.
