Sabelotodo Mezcal Espadin

Sabelotodo Mezcal Espadin is a small-batch ancestral agave spirit bottled at 50.1% ABV in a 750mL bottle, made entirely from Espadin agave (Agave angustifolia) in Santa Catarina Minas, Oaxaca, Mexico, by maestro mezcalero Felix Cruz. The Espadin for this batch was harvested at 8 to 12 years of age, and the whole release totaled just 92 bottles.

• ABV: 50.1%
• Size: 750mL
• Agave: Espadin (Agave angustifolia), harvested at 8-12 years
• Origin: Santa Catarina Minas, Oaxaca, Mexico
• Producer: Felix Cruz, Palenque La Tentacion

The Story

Sabelotodo began in 2011 as a project devoted to the micro-regions of Mexico where agave spirits have been made for generations, and it comes from the same founder as Mezcal Legendario Domingo. This Espadin is made in the Minero style of Santa Catarina Minas, one of Oaxaca's most traditional mezcal communities. Felix Cruz learned the craft in Minas starting at age 16, set up his own palenque by 19, and now works alongside his brothers at Palenque La Tentacion. Nothing here is industrial: every step, from the pit roast to the final proofing, is done by hand in tiny batches.

Tasting Notes

Retailers who have carried this batch describe an unusually smooth spirit for its proof, with soft mineral flavors running through the palate and a texture that stays rounded rather than hot. The pit cooking is kept gentle — water is added about an hour into the roast to soften the smoke — so the minerality of Santa Catarina Minas leads and the smoke supports rather than dominates.

How to Enjoy

Sip it neat from a copita or small glass, a few drops at a time, and let the bottle rest open for a few minutes before the first pour. It also stands up in spirit-forward cocktails where a high-proof, mineral mezcal is wanted, but a batch this small rewards slow, neat drinking. Pair it with orange slices and sal de gusano, or with grilled meats and mole.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does the label say "Destilado de Agave" instead of mezcal?

These Minero-style spirits are sold as uncertified agave distillates. US retailers list this bottle as an uncertified mezcal, and the label itself reads "Destilado de Agave" — the production, however, is fully traditional: pit roasting, hand milling, natural fermentation, and clay pot distillation in Santa Catarina Minas.

What agave is Sabelotodo Espadin made from?

It is made from 100% Espadin (Agave angustifolia), the most widely planted mezcal agave. For this batch the plants were harvested at 8 to 12 years old, and the cooked agave was milled by hand with wooden mallets, as the bottle's "Molido a Mano" label states.

How is it distilled?

After pit cooking and a long dry fermentation, the agave is crushed by hand and fermented again in open-air Sabino oak barrels. The fermented mash is then distilled twice in small Filipino-style clay pot stills and proofed with the heads and tails of the run.

How big was this batch?

Retailer batch notes put this Espadin release at just 92 bottles, rested three years before bottling — availability is extremely limited.

Sabelotodo Mezcal Espadin is available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor.