Alma Tepec Licor de Chile Pasilla Mixe
Alma Tepec Licor de Chile Pasilla Mixe is a 40% ABV (80 proof), 750mL ancestral chile liqueur handmade in Oaxaca, Mexico — the first Oaxacan chile liqueur ever made. Rare Pasilla Mixe chiles, grown above 5,000 feet in the Sierra Mixe by the indigenous Mixe people, are matured in the field to deep crimson, smoke-dried in hand-built earth ovens of bamboo and clay, then macerated in Veracruz sugarcane distillate for six to twelve months and lightly sweetened with cane sugar. Available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
- Proof / ABV: 40% ABV / 80 proof
- Size: 750mL
- Chile: ancestral Pasilla Mixe, grown at 5,000+ ft in the Sierra Mixe, smoke-dried in earth ovens
- Base: sugarcane distillate macerated 6–12 months; cane sugar; no preservatives
- Makers: female communes of Alma Tepec ("Soul Mountain"), bottled and labeled in Oaxaca
- Recognition: Gold — San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2022
Reviving an Endangered Chile
Alma Tepec exists for a reason beyond the bottle: the Pasilla Mixe is one of the rarest chiles in the world, and the brand was founded specifically to partner directly with local growers and revive endangered ancestral chile varieties in rural Oaxacan communities. Bartenders call it a secret weapon — savory, smoky, subtly sweet — and it plays with bourbon, reposado tequila, dark rum, smoky mezcal, and anything involving dark chocolate. Explore our liqueur collection and the Alma Tepec line.
Tasting Notes
Nose: complex earthiness with hints of vanilla and caramel, gentle pervasive woodsmoke. Palate: smooth yet tannic — dried fruits (raisin, cranberry, cherry, tamarind, blackberry, plum), chocolate, coffee, cinnamon, clove, nutmeg. Finish: long and warming, lingering smoke and sweet spice.
How to Enjoy
Add 0.5 oz to margaritas, daiquiris, or highballs — or sip neat over ice. Stir into an Old Fashioned or Manhattan for a smoky twist.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Pasilla Mixe?
An ancestral, extremely rare chile grown in the Sierra Mixe mountains of Oaxaca at over 5,000 feet elevation.
How spicy is it?
Smoky and savory with a gentle, lingering heat — complex rather than fiery.
What is the ABV?
40% ABV (80 proof) — bold for a liqueur, which is why it works in cocktails.
What does it pair with?
Bourbon, reposado tequila, dark rum, smoky mezcal, and dark chocolate anything.
Bartenders' secret weapon — order Alma Tepec online from Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA.