Zinacantan Silvestre Espadilla Mezcal
Zinacantan Silvestre Espadilla Mezcal is a single-distillation agave spirit from San Diego La Mesa Tochimiltzingo, Puebla — made only from wild-harvested Agave angustifolia by maestra mezcalera Fabiola Torres Monfil and bottled at 45.1% ABV in a 750mL bottle. "Silvestre" means wild, and wild espadilla is a rarity worth exploring in our mezcal collection.
- Style: Mezcal artesanal (uncertified agave spirit), single distillation
- ABV: 45.1% (90.2 proof)
- Size: 750mL
- Producer: Fabiola Torres Monfil, Zinacantan
- Region: San Diego La Mesa Tochimiltzingo, Puebla, Mexico
Wild Espadin, From One of Its Last Strongholds
Agave angustifolia — espadin — accounts for roughly 85 percent of all mezcal, but nearly all of it now comes from cloned monocrops that can be low in sugar and flavor. Zinacantan is one of the few projects with access to some of the last remaining zones of truly wild angustifolia, harvested wild and distilled once, to proof, in a copper pot. Founded in 2019 by Fabiola Torres Monfil and ecologist Diana Pinzon, Zinacantan defines itself as an agroforestry project first and a mezcal brand second: everything is grown from seed, production is strictly seasonal, and total output across all expressions is only about 1,000 liters a year. This Espadilla batch ran to just 371 liters.
The agaves roast in a conical earthen pit with huaje wood, are crushed by machete, hatchet and mechanical mill, then ferment for a remarkable 30 days in open pine wood vats with ambient yeast and well water. A single copper-pot distillation follows, and the proof is adjusted only with heads and tails — never water.
Tasting Notes
The importer describes Zinacantan's wild espadilla as "an espadin of unrivaled complexity and body" — dense, full-textured and intensely agave-driven, a world away from industrial espadin. Compare it with Fabiola's wild Papalometl from the same village.
How to Enjoy
Sip neat at room temperature in a copita or small glass, and give it time in the glass — single-distilled, undiluted spirits open up slowly. A bottle this limited also belongs on the top shelf of any serious agave collection; browse more in our Rare & Top Shelf collection.
FAQ
What does "Silvestre Espadilla" mean? Espadilla is the Puebla name for Agave angustifolia (espadin); "silvestre" means this spirit is made only from wild-harvested plants, not farmed clones.
Why a single distillation? Zinacantan distills to proof in one copper-pot run and adjusts with heads and tails instead of water, preserving the full character of the wild agave.
Who makes it? Maestra mezcalera Fabiola Torres Monfil, a fourth-generation producer in San Diego La Mesa Tochimiltzingo, Puebla.
This Zinacantan Silvestre Espadilla Mezcal is available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor, with nationwide shipping.