Antilope Mezcal Tobala
Antilope Mezcal Tobala is an 81.6-proof (40.8% ABV) joven mezcal in a 700mL bottle, distilled from 100% wild-harvested Tobalá agave (Agave potatorum) in Oaxaca, Mexico. Tobalá is the "King of Mezcals" — a small, rare wild agave that takes roughly 12–15 years to mature — and Antilope works it the traditional way: earthen-pit roasted, crushed by tahona stone wheel, naturally fermented, and double-distilled in copper stills in small batches. Order it online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
- Proof / ABV: 81.6 proof (40.8% ABV) — 700mL
- Agave: 100% wild-harvested Tobalá (Agave potatorum) — unaged joven
- Region: Oaxaca, Mexico
- Process: earthen-pit roasted, tahona-crushed, naturally fermented, double-distilled in copper
- Production: small-batch, artisanal — no official brand site located; producer details per retailer consensus
The King of Mezcals
Most mezcal comes from cultivated espadín. Tobalá grows wild in the Oaxacan hills, matures over a decade or more, and yields a fraction of the spirit per plant — which is why tobalá mezcal costs what it costs and drinks the way it drinks: elegant, precise, unmistakably wild. Antilope's line is handmade in small batches "preserving an ancient tradition," committed to supporting the small communities that grow and harvest the agave. See more from Antilope Mezcal or browse Del Mesa's mezcal shelf.
Tasting Notes
A distinctive smoky aroma with subtle fruit and earthiness — "very elegant and precise aromas." The palate is mellow and smooth with a subtle almond flavor, a balance of herbal and floral notes, fruity warmth, spice, and a slight cocoa note. The finish is dry with a floral whiff of chrysanthemum, long and smooth with light smokiness lingering.
How to Enjoy
Neat in a copita — tobalá's delicacy is the point, and ice or mixers bury it. This is a tasting mezcal for agave obsessives.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is tobalá?
Tobalá (Agave potatorum) is a small wild agave native to Oaxaca, nicknamed the "King of Mezcals" — rare, slow-maturing (12–15 years), and prized for its elegant, complex spirit.
Why is tobalá mezcal more expensive?
Wild harvest, tiny plants, decade-plus maturation, and low yields per agave — far less spirit per plant than cultivated espadín.
What is the proof?
81.6 proof (40.8% ABV).
Is this an aged mezcal?
No — it's a joven (unaged) expression; the complexity comes from the wild agave and traditional process, not oak.
Wild Oaxacan tobalá in its purest form — order Antilope Mezcal Tobala online from Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA.