Mezcal Vago Espadín by Emigdio Jarquín

Mezcal Vago Espadín by Emigdio Jarquín is a joven mezcal artesanal bottled at about 50.5% ABV (batch-varies, printed on the label) in a 750mL bottle — a 100% espadín expression from fourth-generation mezcalero Don Emigdio Jarquín Ramírez in El Nanche, Miahuatlán de Porfirio Díaz, Oaxaca, at nearly 5,000 feet elevation. One of the most decorated mezcals in Vago history — 2019 San Francisco World Spirits Competition Double Gold and Best Mezcal, plus "Best Mezcal in the World" at the 2020 World Tequila and Mezcal Awards — it is a saline, mineral-driven expression shaped by the caliche soils of the Miahuatlán valley. It is available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor.

• Proof / ABV: about 50.5% ABV / ~101 proof (batch-varies; printed on label)
• Size: 750mL
• Aging: unaged joven — bottled after distillation
• Origin: El Nanche, Miahuatlán de Porfirio Díaz, Oaxaca, Mexico (~4,970 ft)
• Production: 100% espadín (A. angustifolia), 8–12 yr cultivated; earthen pit roast, stone tahona, pine-vat ferment, double-distilled in copper

Miahuatlán's Award Magnet

Miahuatlán is a historically important mezcal town — the region both Aquilino García's and Tío Rey's families emigrated from — and Emigdio Jarquín's palenque sits among its rolling hills and shallow arroyos at nearly 5,000 feet. The caliche layer in the soil lends this espadín a saline, mineral-driven character distinct from Barriga's fruit-forward style: wild flowers and fresh-cut agave, butter and tropical fruit, finishing with granite and salt air. Compare Vago's producers side by side in the Mezcal Vago collection, or browse more mezcal and tequila at Del Mesa Liquor.

Tasting Notes

Nose: Wild flowers and fresh-cut agave over smoked agave, fresh herbs, sweet citrus, and earthy minerality — delicate, slightly lactic, enchanting.

Palate: Rich cooked sugar and honey with pineapple, mango, and citrus pulp; mid-palate brings white garden flower, mint, roasted bell pepper, and cacao nibs.

Finish: Clean and stony — granite, salt air, and lingering gentle smoke.

How to Enjoy

Neat in a copita at room temperature; the mineral character rewards slow sipping. Pair with Oaxacan mole or grilled seafood, or serve traditionally with an orange slice and sal de gusano. It also brings serious backbone to a mezcal Negroni.

Frequently Asked Questions

What awards has this mezcal won?
Double Gold and Best Mezcal at the 2019 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, "Best Mezcal in the World" at the 2020 World Tequila and Mezcal Awards, and 93 points at the 2022 Ultimate Spirits Challenge.

What makes Miahuatlán mezcal different?
The caliche (limestone) soils around Emigdio's palenque drive a saline, mineral character — less fruit-forward than Sierra Sur expressions, more stony and floral.

Is this mezcal smoky?
Moderately — the wood-fired earthen pit roast gives it gentle smoke, balanced by sweet, herbal, and mineral notes rather than dominated by it.

Who is Emigdio Jarquín?
A fourth-generation mezcalero distilling in the El Nanche district of Miahuatlán, Oaxaca, in the copper-pot tradition of the Miahuatlán valley.

Taste one of the most awarded mezcals ever bottled — order Mezcal Vago Espadín by Emigdio Jarquín online from Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.