La Nina del Mezcal Pechuga
La Niña del Mezcal Pechuga is Oaxaca's celebration in a bottle — a 98.4-proof (49.2% ABV) triple-distilled pechuga mezcal in a 750mL bottle, built on espadín agave from Santiago Matatlán, Oaxaca. Before the third distillation, fresh herbs and fruit go into the still — and a raw chicken breast is hung above the spirit path, so the vapor passes through it ("pechuga" means breast). This is the festive mezcal traditionally reserved for Oaxacan fiestas, not an everyday sipper. Order it online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
- Proof / ABV: 98.4 proof (49.2% ABV) — 750mL
- Agave: 100% espadín (Agave angustifolia)
- Origin: Santiago Matatlán, Oaxaca, Mexico
- Method: triple-distilled in copper; third run through fresh herbs, fruit, and raw chicken breast
- Brand: La Niña del Mezcal — artisan single-producer curation
The Mezcal That Runs Through a Chicken
Pechuga is the most theatrical tradition in mezcal: the third distillation passes through seasonal fruit, wild herbs, and meat hung in the still — usually turkey or chicken breast — in a practice reserved for weddings and festivals. La Niña's version keeps the ritual intact with espadín from Matatlán, the heart of Oaxacan mezcal country. Browse the La Niña del Mezcal collection or explore Del Mesa's mezcal lineup.
Tasting Notes
Complex and rich — roasted agave wrapped in orchard fruit, wild herbs, and savory depth from the third distillation; the meat adds roundness and texture, not meat flavor; a long, warming finish.
How to Enjoy
Neat, in small pours, with food nearby — pechuga is built for the table. Traditionally it opens a celebration; treat it like the festive bottle it is.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is pechuga mezcal made FROM chicken?
No — it is made WITH chicken: a raw breast is hung in the still during the third distillation so the vapor passes through it, alongside fruit and herbs.
What is the ABV?
49.2% ABV (98.4 proof).
When do Oaxacans drink pechuga?
At celebrations — weddings, fiestas, and festivals. It is the festive mezcal, not the everyday one.
A fiesta tradition in a bottle — order La Niña del Mezcal Pechuga online from Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA.