Derrumbes Zacatecas Mezcal
Derrumbes Zacatecas Mezcal is a 100% blue-agave mezcal from Zacatecas, Mexico — a mezcal made from the tequila agave in tequila's ancient style, bottled at the lot-specific ABV printed on the label (typically in the mid-to-high 40s) in a 750mL bottle. Maestro mezcalero Jaime Bañuelos, a third-generation tabernero at Hacienda de Guadalupe in Huitzila (near the Tequila Valley), pit-roasts the agave, crushes it by tahona, ferments with wild yeast, and double-distills in small copper pot stills. It's the Derrumbes expression for tequila drinkers who want to taste what blue agave was like before modernization. Order online from Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
- ABV: Varies by lot — check the bottle label (documented range ~45.7–49%)
- Size: 750mL (US)
- Agave: 100% Agave Tequilana Weber Azul (blue agave, outside the tequila DO)
- Production: Ancient pit roast, tahona crush, wild-yeast fermentation, double-distilled in small copper pots
- Origin: Huitzila, Zacatecas — Maestro Jaime Bañuelos
- Brand: Derrumbes (est. 2012, Esteban Morales & Sergio Mendoza); US importer Spirit of Gallo
Blue Agave, Before Tequila
Derrumbes' project is mezcal from Mexico's lesser-known states, and the Zacatecas expression is its most provocative bottle: the same blue agave tequila is made from, grown a few kilometers from the Tequila Valley — but cooked in earth pits, crushed under a stone wheel, and distilled in copper like mezcal has been for centuries. The result drinks like a higher-proof tequila with real smoke and earth depth. Explore the Derrumbes expressions and more mezcal.
Tasting Notes
A higher-ABV-tequila-like nose with strong smoke and earth depth; full, mouth-coating texture with a peppery hit — green and leafy, minerals, earth, gentle barbecue-coal smoke, candied orange, flamed orange zest, and chocolate over fruity roasted agave. Long finish with tequila-like freshness and earthy undertones.
How to Enjoy
Neat in a copita, or side-by-side with your favorite blanco tequila — the comparison is the whole point. Rests beautifully with a splash of water at higher proofs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Derrumbes Zacatecas a tequila?
No — it's a mezcal made from 100% blue Weber agave (the tequila agave) grown outside the tequila denomination of origin, so it can't be called tequila. Derrumbes markets it as a mezcal in tequila's ancient style.
What is the ABV of Derrumbes Zacatecas?
It varies by production lot — Derrumbes prints the lot-specific ABV on every bottle, documented between roughly 45.7% and 49%. Check your bottle's label.
Who makes Derrumbes Zacatecas?
Maestro mezcalero Jaime Bañuelos, a third-generation tabernero at Hacienda de Guadalupe in Huitzila, Zacatecas, near the Tequila Valley.
Discover blue agave's wild side — order Derrumbes Zacatecas Mezcal online from Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA.