Wahaka Mezcal Reposado con Gusano

Wahaka Mezcal Reposado con Gusano is a 750mL reposado mezcal bottled at 40% ABV (80 proof), made from espadín agave in San Dionisio Ocotepec, Oaxaca, by maestro mezcalero Alberto "Beto" Morales (NOM-O148X) — pit-roasted, tahona-crushed, wild-yeast fermented and double distilled in copper, then rested in oak and bottled with the gusano, the agave worm. It is available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor.

• Size: 750mL
• ABV: 40% (80 proof)
• Agave: Espadín (Agave angustifolia)
• Style: Reposado mezcal, bottled with the gusano (agave worm)
• Production: Earthen-pit roast, tahona crush, pine-vat wild-yeast fermentation, double distilled in copper alembic
• Origin: San Dionisio Ocotepec, Oaxaca, Mexico — NOM-O148X

Five Generations in San Dionisio Ocotepec

Wahaka is the work of the Morales family of San Dionisio Ocotepec, in Oaxaca's Tlacolula district — a family that has made mezcal for some five generations, bottled under the Wahaka name since 2010 by maestro Alberto "Beto" Morales. The Reposado con Gusano takes the house espadín — cooked three to five days in an earthen pit over river rocks, crushed by tahona, fermented with wild yeast in pine vats and double distilled in a copper alembic — and gives it a short oak rest the producer reports at four to six months in oak, before bottling it the traditional way, with the gusano in the bottle. Explore more tequila and mezcal, visit the Wahaka Mezcal vendor page, or taste the unrested original in Wahaka Mezcal Espadin Joven.

Tasting Notes

Colour: Light caramel from the barrel rest, per the producer. Nose and palate: Cooked agave softened by oak, with the house's signature touch of spice and a smooth, almost buttery texture. Finish: A slight smokiness at the end — mellower and less agave-raw than the Joven.

How to Enjoy

Sip it neat to follow the pit smoke under the oak, or pour it over one large cube. It also builds a rounder, spicier margarita than a blanco tequila ever will.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the gusano in the bottle? The gusano is the agave worm traditionally bottled in some Oaxacan mezcals — a mark of the old-school style this reposado follows. It is a tradition and a talking point, not a flavoring shortcut.

How is Wahaka Reposado made? From espadín agave roasted in an earthen pit, tahona-crushed, fermented with wild yeast in pine vats and double distilled in copper, then rested in oak — all in San Dionisio Ocotepec, Oaxaca, under NOM-O148X.

What does reposado mean for mezcal? A short rest in oak — Wahaka reports four to six months for this bottling — which softens the smoke and agave with light caramel and spice while keeping the mezcal character in front.

Old-school Oaxaca, worm and all — order Wahaka Mezcal Reposado con Gusano online from Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA.