Don Amado Mezcal Ensamble Tobala & Bicuishe
Don Amado Mezcal Ensamble Tobala & Bicuishe is a two-agave joven mezcal — 46% ABV (92 proof), 750mL, made from wild Tobala (Agave potatorum) and Bicuishe (Agave karwinskii) grown at 4,800 feet in San Pablo Apostol, Oaxaca, roasted together and double distilled in ceramic clay pots in Santa Catarina Minas. It is available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor.
- ABV: 46% (92 proof)
- Size: 750mL
- Agave: Tobala (Agave potatorum) and Bicuishe (Agave karwinskii)
- Class: Joven ensamble — unaged
- Production: Earthen roast (4 days, guamuchil and mesquite), fermented with bagazo in 1,400L pine vats, double distilled in ceramic pot stills
- Origin: Santa Catarina Minas, Oaxaca, Mexico
Two Wild Agaves, One Roast
An ensamble is mezcal's oldest blending logic: the agaves go into the pit together, ferment together and distil together, so the marriage happens in the ground and the still rather than in a blending tank. Here the pairing is inspired — Tobala, the small, sweet, mineral wild agave of the highlands, laid over Bicuishe, a woody Karwinskii that brings structure and depth. The Arellanes family's clay-pot method does the rest, four days of earthen roasting and a double pass through ceramic stills. Find it among our mezcal shelves, compare the single-varietal bottlings across the tequila and mezcal range, or visit the Don Amado vendor page.
Tasting Notes
Nose: Summer stone fruit, soft tea rose and toasted red chile, with a whisper of sea spray. Palate: Earl Grey tea, dried orange peel and candied mango over cinnamon and a faint woodiness from the Bicuishe. Finish: Smooth and jammy, closing on black licorice.
How to Enjoy
Pour it neat and give it time — the Tobala's fruit and florals arrive first, the Bicuishe's wood and spice behind them. A single large cube is as much chill as it wants.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 'ensamble' mean in mezcal? An ensamble is made from two or more agave varieties that are cooked, fermented and distilled together — here Tobala and Bicuishe — rather than blending separately finished mezcals.
What is Tobala agave? A small, wild Agave potatorum that grows in rocky highland soils. It yields little liquid per plant, which is why Tobala mezcals are prized and priced accordingly.
Is this the same as Don Amado's aged mezcals? No. This ensamble is a joven — unaged — so what you taste is the two agaves and the clay pot, with no oak in the way.
Wild Tobala sweetness over Bicuishe structure — order Don Amado Ensamble Tobala & Bicuishe online from Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA.