Mezonte Raicilla Japo

Mezonte is the project of Pedro Jiménez Gurría, who started out pouring traditional agave spirits in a small bar in Guadalajara and built it into a nonprofit-minded effort to document and protect the mezcales of Jalisco and Michoacán, now imported by Suro, the team behind Siembra Valles. Japo is the raicilla of Hildegardo "Japo" Joya of Cabo Corrientes, the stretch of Jalisco coast south of Puerto Vallarta, born in 1932 and making raicilla since his youth. Astor Wines calls him one of the most highly esteemed producers of agave spirits anywhere in the world, and he still works entirely by hand, using traditional manual methods into his nineties. The agave is Amarillo, Agave rhodacantha, harvested at seven to nine years old and distilled in copper, in lots of only 400 to 500 liters, bottled at full strength around 46 to 47% ABV depending on the lot. Expect a funky, savory raicilla rather than a sweet one: reviewers on Mezcal Reviews describe a lactic, fresh-cheese nose with Greek yogurt, dill, and cucumber, honeysuckle and a faint pepper, then sweet baked agave, red and black berries, lemongrass, honey, and citrus zest on a medium, silky palate.

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