La Luna
La Luna Mezcal is made with agave Cupreata in Etucuaro, Michoacan which is home to other Michoacan mezcal producers as well. At an elevation of 1,790 meters, the Cupreata Agave are harvested after eight to ten years of growth. The agave piñas are fire roasted in a stone-lined horno using estate sourced white oak. The cooked agave is milled by hand and naturally fermented in open-air wooden vats before being double distilled in a copper and pinewood Tarascan still. Due to the artisinal nature of this mezcal, the ABV will vary by batch. Get it here.
Banhez
Banhez Mezcal is produced by a co-op families from various villages in the Ejutla district of Oaxaca. They are producing mezcal the same way it’s been done by their ancestors for nearly two centuries using underground wood-fired pits, donkey-pulled tahonas, wooden fermentation tanks, and distillation in copper alembics. At 42% ABV, Banhez Mezcal is perfect for first-time mezcal tasters and works well in cocktails. Banhez Mezcal was the 2017 Double Gold Winner for “Best Mezcal” at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Get it here.
Sombra
Sombra Mezcal was first exported to the United States in 2006 and was made with agave Espadin in San Juan and San Luis del Rio, areas steeped in mezcal history. As of 2017, Sombra has been produced at a single company-owned palenque with a focus on sustainability. The agaves are grown organically high in the mountains of San Juan del Rio, Oaxaca. The Sombra brand is a staple in many unique cocktails. Though it is well-suited for mixed drinks, sipping neat it carries a high note of citrus that warms the palate with a clean and fruit driven finish. Get it here.