La Nina del Mezcal Madrecuixe
La Niña del Mezcal Madrecuixe is the mother of the cuishe — an 87.2-proof (43.6% ABV) artesanal mezcal joven in a 750mL bottle, distilled from wild maguey Madrecuixe (Agave karwinskii), hand-picked in the wild and made by mezcalero Armando Hernandez Lorenzo in Santiago Matatlán, Oaxaca. The piñas are cooked with Encino (oak) and Mezquite (mesquite) wood, crushed on a traditional tahona stone, fermented for ten full days, and double-distilled in copper — NOM-0170X. Order it online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
- Proof / ABV: 87.2 proof (43.6% ABV) — 750mL
- Agave: wild maguey Madrecuixe (Agave karwinskii), hand-harvested
- Origin: Santiago Matatlán, Oaxaca, Mexico
- Producer: mezcalero Armando Hernandez Lorenzo
- Process: Encino + Mezquite wood roast, tahona mill, 10-day ferment, double copper distillation
Mother of the Cuishe
"Madrecuixe" means mother of the cuishe — this wild karwinskii maguey is the matriarch of Oaxaca's most prized agave family, slow-growing and hand-harvested from the wild. Ten days of fermentation and tahona crushing make this one of the most traditionally made bottles in the La Niña lineup. See more from La Niña del Mezcal or browse Del Mesa's mezcal shelf.
Tasting Notes
A pleasant, inviting nose; mild and approachable on the tongue for a wild-agave mezcal, with a slight burn at the end and a long, mineral finish (retailer notes).
How to Enjoy
Neat in a copita — a wild karwinskii this carefully made doesn't need a cocktail. A few drops of water open the tahona character.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does "Madrecuixe" mean?
"Mother of the cuishe" — a wild Agave karwinskii maguey, one of the prized wild agaves of Oaxaca.
What is the ABV?
43.6% ABV (87.2 proof).
Is it traditionally made?
Yes — wood-fired oven, tahona stone milling, ten-day fermentation, and double copper-pot distillation.
Wild agave, old ways — pick up La Niña del Mezcal Madrecuixe online at Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA.