Del Maguey Single Village Mezcal Pechuga
Del Maguey Single Village Mezcal Pechuga is a 98-proof (49% ABV) seasonal mezcal in a 750mL bottle — double-distilled Minero Espadin from Santa Catarina Minas, given a third distillation in clay stills with wild mountain apples, plums, red plantains, pineapples, almonds, white rice and a whole chicken breast suspended in the vapor. It is available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
- Proof / ABV: 98 proof (49% ABV)
- Size: 750mL, seasonal release (autumn fruit)
- Agave: Espadin (A. angustifolia) — begins as double-distilled Minero
- Production: third distillation in ancestral clay stills; ~100 kg wild fruit, almonds and rice in the still, whole raw chicken breast suspended above the liquid for ~24 hours
- Village: Santa Catarina Minas, Oaxaca — palenqueros Florencio Carlos Sarmiento, Florencio Carlos Vasquez, Luis Carlos Vasquez, Luis Carlos Martinez
- Recognition: 92 points, Highly Recommended, Ultimate Spirits Challenge
The Ceremonial Mezcal
Pechuga is a pre-colonial Oaxacan tradition reserved for celebrations — weddings, feast days, Day of the Dead. The base is Minero, already double-distilled in clay; for the third pass, the family loads the still with the autumn harvest — wild mountain apples and plums, red plantains, pineapples, almonds, uncooked white rice — and hangs a whole raw chicken breast in the vapor path. The breast keeps the fruit from dominating, adding a savory, briny depth; after distillation it is removed and placed in the family altar room as an offering. The cooked fruit is shared with the village. Explore the Del Maguey collection and the mezcal aisle at Del Mesa.
Tasting Notes
Per review profiles: basil, lemon, ocean air and fruit on a nose some compare to smoky Scotch; soft, round and gently savory on the palate with tropical fruit, tarragon and a chicken-consomme umami; a long, briny, citrusy finish.
How to Enjoy
Neat in a copita, sipped slowly — the house rule for every Del Maguey single-village mezcal. Pechuga is a once-a-year style; open it when the occasion deserves a story.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is pechuga mezcal?
A traditional third distillation in which a raw chicken breast (pechuga) is suspended in the still's vapor alongside wild fruits — the vapor passes over it, adding savory depth without dominating.
Why is Pechuga seasonal?
The wild mountain apples and plums used in the third distillation are only in season in autumn, so production is limited to the fall harvest each year.
Does it taste like chicken?
No — it tastes of fruit, smoke, herbs and umami depth; the breast contributes savoriness and balance, not poultry flavour.
The most storied bottle in the Del Maguey range — order Pechuga online from Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.