Mezcal Vago Pechuga de Joel Barriga Aragón

Mezcal Vago Pechuga de Joel Barriga Aragón is mezcal artesanal at its most ceremonial — a 105.2 proof (52.6% ABV) 750mL pechuga from third-generation mezcalero Don Joel Barriga Aragón at Hacienda Tapanala, high in Oaxaca's arid Sierra Sur. Built on 100% Bat-Friendly espadín — roasted in earthen pit ovens, crushed by horse-drawn tahona, fermented in open-air wooden vats, double-distilled in copper — it gets its pechuga finish in the second distillation, where a farm-raised chicken breast hangs in the still alongside apples, pineapple, bananas, tejocotes, fresh corn, and sugar cane. Vago's own words: "bright with cooked agave and sugar cane on the nose, and a sweetness on the palate." Available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.

• Proof / ABV: 105.2 proof (52.6% ABV) — 750mL
• Class: Mezcal Artesanal — 100% Bat-Friendly espadín (Agave angustifolia), UNAGED
• Mezcalero: Don Joel Barriga Aragón (3rd generation), Hacienda Tapanala, Tapanala, Oaxaca
• Pechuga: farm-raised chicken breast + apples, pineapple, bananas, tejocotes, corn, sugar cane in the second distillation
• Process: earthen pit ovens, horse-drawn tahona, wooden-vat fermentation, copper double distillation

The Pechuga Tradition, From Tapanala

Pechuga is mezcal's feast-day tradition — a second distillation run with a suspended offering (historically game, now farm-raised chicken) and local fruits, whose fats and aromatics round and perfume the spirit. Don Joel's version runs the full Sierra Sur gauntlet: Bat-Friendly espadín (some plants left to flower for the bats, a UNAM-backed certification), earthen pits, tahona wheel, wooden vats. The result is bright and gently smoky, with ripe fruit, citrus, and soft spice — "sip it neat, slowly, at room temperature." Browse more mezcal or see the Mezcal Vago range at Del Mesa.

Tasting Notes

Vago official: "bright with cooked agave and sugar cane on the nose, and a sweetness on the palate." Trade detail: aroma of ripe tropical fruits, gentle smoke, citrus zest, and herbal nuances; a rich, layered palate of baked apple, pineapple, cinnamon, and soft earthy undertones; a long, smooth, warming finish with balanced spice and subtle sweetness.

How to Enjoy

Neat, slowly, at room temperature — the traditional pechuga serve. Add a sal de gusano and orange slice if you like, but don't chill it; the chicken-breast roundness shows best warm.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is pechuga mezcal?
A traditional style where a second distillation runs with a suspended chicken breast plus fruits, corn, and sugar cane in the still — fats and aromatics that soften and perfume the spirit.

Is it aged?
No — pechuga is bottled after the second distillation with no oak contact. There is no añejo claim on this product.

What does "Bat-Friendly" mean?
Part of the espadín crop is left to flower so bats can pollinate it — a certification developed with Mexico's UNAM that supports the agave ecosystem.

Ceremonial mezcal, done right — order Mezcal Vago Pechuga de Joel Barriga Aragón from Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.