Mezcal geeks love to run down all the varieties of Agave Karwinskii they can name. And when we talk about Agave Americana, we talk about Arroqueno and Coyote and Sierra Negra. But the most prolific of agaves in Oaxaca is easily Angustifolia, represented exclusively by Espadin. But that’s not the sole variety of the species – at least, outside of Oaxaca. So why don’t we talk about varieties of Angustifolia in Oaxaca? And is that a possible solution to the growing monoculture in Mezcal? It’s another head-scratching episode of Agave Road Trip!

Agave Road Trip is a critically acclaimed, award-winning podcast that helps gringx bartenders better understand agave, agave spirits, and rural Mexico. This episode is hosted by Lou Bank with special guest Linda Sullivan of seynasecreto with insights from mezcalero Arturo Campos of San Juan Espanatica, Jalisco.

Episode Notes

UPDATE: After this episode dropped, we received this message from our friends at Mezcal Tosba:

We use another type of Angustifolia which locally is known as Espadilla. For its morphology it resembles closer to an Espadin (thin sword )unlike the more known "Espadin" which has wider leaves. If you want to taste it we had a limited release for the USA under Tosba Mezcal.

Thanks to The Tequiladies for joining me on the trip that led to this episode!

Thanks to Mezonte and Mezcaloteca for that beautiful old bottle I reference that should have made me think about this years ago!