Neta Quiote de Espadin

Neta Quiote de Espadin is one of the most unusual artisanal mezcals in the shop: an experimental batch distilled from the flowering stalks of the agave itself. In July 2023, Nicolás García Vásquez and his son Miguel cut 120 burgeoning quiotes — roughly two to three feet of freshly sprouted stalk each, 1,200 kg in total — from seven- and eight-year-old maturing Espadín agaves in San José del Progreso, Miahuatlán, Oaxaca. Roasted with agave in mid-July, dry-fermented for three days, and twice distilled in copper pots, it was composed from a mix of heads, hearts, and tails (750mL). Order it online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.

• Batch: experimental 2023 batch — 120 quiotes (flowering stalks), ~1,200 kg
• Agave: Espadín (A. angustifolia), 7–8 years old; ancient "castration" practice repurposed for distillation
• Process: pit-roasted, three-day dry fermentation, twice distilled in copper pots
• Origin: San José del Progreso, Miahuatlán, Oaxaca — Nicolás García Vásquez and son Miguel
• Character: roasted agave, earthy smoke, herbal tones, and wild floral sweetness (per the batch notes)

The Stalk Becomes the Spirit

Cutting the quiote — "castrating" the maguey — is an ancient technique that redirects the plant's energy back into the piña, increasing its size and sugar. But in Miahuatlán the quiote itself is usually food, not fermentable: locals roast the chunks and mash them with corn dough into tostadas de maguey, a June-to-August seasonal treat. Having grown up eating those tostadas, Nicolás wondered what the sweet, sugar-rich stalks would taste like as a spirit — and rather than leave the fresh-cut quiotes for compost or fodder, he distilled them. Browse more from Neta or explore the mezcal shelf.

Tasting Notes

Roasted agave and earthy smoke up front, with herbal tones and a subtle wild floral sweetness from the quiote itself; a layered, vegetal palate and a long, evolving finish (per the batch notes and importer).

How to Enjoy

Sip neat in a copita at room temperature — this is a collector's batch to taste slowly. It rewards a second pour once the first has aired for a few minutes.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a quiote?
The flowering stalk of the agave — an asparagus-like shoot that emerges when the plant blooms. Cutting it redirects energy into the piña.

Is Neta Quiote de Espadin made from the agave hearts too?
The batch is defined by the quiotes: 120 fresh stalks, roasted alongside agave and processed normally, then distilled.

Who makes it?
Nicolás García Vásquez and his son Miguel in Miahuatlán, Oaxaca — Neta has worked with traditional producers since 2012.

A flowering stalk, turned into mezcal — order Neta Quiote de Espadin online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.