El Mero Mero Mezcal Tepextate
El Mero Mero Mezcal Tepextate is a 94-proof (47% ABV) artesanal mezcal from 100% wild Tepextate agave — a desert giant that takes 20–25 years to reach maturity in the hills of San Dionisio Ocotepec, Oaxaca. El Mero Mero calls itself "The Mezcalero's Mezcal" — the mezcal the master mezcaleros drink — and Tepextate is the bottle that earns the name. Tahona-crushed, fermented in Encino oak tubs, distilled in copper by mezcalero Justino Garcia Cruz. Tiny batches of 125–200 bottles; this 750mL is available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
- ABV: 47% (94 proof)
- Size: 750mL
- Agave: 100% wild Tepextate (Agave marmorata) — maturity 20–25 years
- Origin: San Dionisio Ocotepec, Oaxaca — mezcalero Justino Garcia Cruz
- Production: 100% artesanal — tahona crush, Encino oak tub fermentation, copper distillation; est. 2011
- Batch size: ~125–200 bottles
The Mezcalero's Mezcal
Tepextate is the agave that makes mezcal people talk in hushed tones: 20-plus years in the ground, wild-only, and vanishingly rare — Cruz works with surrounding mezcaleros to cultivate it sustainably so it stays on the shelf at all. The process is fully artesanal: crushed by tahona, fermented in Encino oak tubs, double-distilled in copper, with batches of just 125–200 bottles. The label art is by Venezuelan artist Carlos Zerpa. Taste it alongside other wild agaves in our mezcal collection or explore the El Mero Mero range.
Tasting Notes
Vegetal and savory — white pepper, buttered popcorn, umami — with a saline edge and an oily texture that coats the palate. The finish is long, wild, and faintly sweet, like agave nectar dried in the desert sun.
How to Enjoy
Neat, slowly, in a copita. This is a collector's mezcal — one pour at a time, no ice, no mixers. Save it for people who already know what Tepextate is.
Frequently Asked Questions
What agave is El Mero Mero Tepextate made from?
Agave marmorata — wild Tepextate from Oaxaca's highlands.
How long does Tepextate agave take to mature?
20–25 years — one of the slowest-maturing agaves in all of mezcal.
Why is Tepextate mezcal so expensive?
Wild-only agave, two-plus decades to maturity, and batches of 125–200 bottles. Scarcity is the whole story.
San Diego collectors can order El Mero Mero Mezcal Tepextate online from Del Mesa Liquor — a true wild-agave rarity, shipped to your door.