Mal Bien Zacate Limon Morales
40% ABV (80 proof) | 750mL | Espadin (Agave angustifolia) distilled with lemongrass ("destilado con") | Mezcal Artesanal — Mal Bien Zacate Limon Morales is the Morales family's bright outlier: 100% espadín built exactly like their classic white-tape bottling, but with freshly cut lemongrass (zacate limón — lemongrass, NOT an agave variety) riding the second distillation, plus a final maceration for aromatics and a light golden tint. Available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA.
The recipe is a family heirloom: created by Maestro Mezcalero Lucio Morales López as a gift to his wife Agustina, and still made the same way by his son Oscar Morales (4th generation) in San Dionisio Ocotepec, Oaxaca — roasted in an earth pit, crushed by tahona, fermented in pine, and twice distilled in copper pot alambiques with fresh lemongrass. Mal Bien (founded 2016, a curator/independent-bottler model like independent Scotch bottlers — "Mal Bien" = "done well") positions it as a highball and cocktail spirit, even a plug-and-play substitute for gin. Importer notes: bright, lively citrus; lemon zest and melon; lemongrass aromatics over roasted agave; limoncello-adjacent but drier — great in highballs, mezcal tonics, tiki drinks, and margaritas. Among mezcal-tradition agave spirits, this is the cocktail-friendliest pour on the shelf.
Tasting notes
Bright, lively citrus; lemon zest and melon; lemongrass aromatics over roasted agave; limoncello-adjacent but drier. (Per importer tasting notes.)
Why buy it from Del Mesa Liquor
- 40% ABV (80 proof) — 750mL
- 100% Espadín distilled with fresh lemongrass in the stills + final maceration
- Morales family, San Dionisio Ocotepec, Oaxaca — 4th-generation recipe
- Roasted in earth pit, tahona crush, twice distilled in copper pot
- Available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor
How to serve it
Tonic water and lime over ice for the classic Mal Bien serve; also built for tiki drinks and margaritas.
Frequently asked questions
What is "Zacate Limón"?
Lemongrass — not an agave variety. This is 100% espadín mezcal made "abocado con" lemongrass, added to the stills before the second distillation.
Who makes it?
The Morales family of San Dionisio Ocotepec, Oaxaca — Oscar Morales, 4th generation, from his father Lucio's recipe.
Is it a good cocktail mezcal?
Yes — Mal Bien positions it as a highball and cocktail spirit, even a substitute for gin.
Where can I order it?
Available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA.