Mal Bien Papalote Joven Gutierrez
~46% ABV (batch-varying) | 750mL | Papalote (Agave cupreata) | uncertified destilado de agave — Mal Bien Papalote Joven Gutierrez is the Gutiérrez family's take on papalote: Tomás Gutiérrez and his son Emiliano, 3rd/4th-generation mezcaleros, work the hills above Chilapa de Álvarez, Guerrero — 100% papalote grown in Tepehuixco (the family's home village), including 10–15% capón agave, with the family's consistent signature of chocolate and chiles. Available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA.
The Gutiérrez family — like their peers — credits maguey quality above all; they run a nursery of 50,000+ papalote seedlings. Official production: 6-ton pit, 6–8 days, encino/tepozcahuite/tepehuaje wood; 1-day rest; wood-chipper mill; ayacahuite fermentation tanks with spring water, 5–6 days; two distillations in 200-liter copper alambiques; adjusted with puntas y colas. The profile carries the family's chocolate-and-chile signature lifted by floral top notes, complex earthy aromatics, sweet roasted agave richness, and a lingering finish. Among agave spirits, papalote is one of Guerrero's most distinctive species — richer and spicier than espadín — and this bottling is the family-style reference. Note: do NOT claim wild-only harvest (official: 100% grown in Tepehuixco).
Tasting notes
Chocolate and chiles (family signature), lifted by floral top notes; complex earthy aromatics; sweet roasted agave richness; stone fruit/citrus/mineral variants by lote; lingering finish. (Per official Mal Bien and retailer notes.)
Why buy it from Del Mesa Liquor
- ~46% ABV (batch-varying) — 750mL, uncertified destilado de agave
- Papalote (Agave cupreata) — 100% grown in Tepehuixco, incl. 10–15% capón
- Tomás + Emiliano Gutiérrez, 3rd/4th-generation, Chilapa de Álvarez, Guerrero
- Family signature: chocolate and chiles; wood-chipper mill, copper alambiques
- Available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor
How to serve it
Neat at room temperature — papalote's spice and body deserve the slow pour.
Frequently asked questions
What is Papalote?
Agave cupreata — a Guerrero-native agave prized for rich, spicy, chocolate-leaning character.
Who makes it?
Tomás Gutiérrez and his son Emiliano, 3rd/4th-generation mezcaleros of the Chilapa de Álvarez area, Guerrero.
Is this wild-harvested?
No — official materials state 100% papalote grown in Tepehuixco, including capón (over-matured) agave.
How is it different from the Barranca papalote?
Both are A. cupreata from Chilapa de Álvarez; Gutierrez is father-son, Tepehuixco-grown with a chocolate-and-chiles signature, while the Barranca is grandfather-grandson with neighbor-grown papalote emphasizing sweet roasted agave and spice.