La Penca Joven Mezcal
La Penca Joven Mezcal is a 36% ABV (72 proof) joven mezcal made from wild Salmiana agave in San Luis Potosí, Mexico — a 750mL bottle of 100% agave spirit, rested in white oak casks after the traditional roast of the maguey piñas. "Penca" is the name for the sword-like agave leaf trimmed from the piña before roasting — and the bottle itself is half the story: hand-blown artisanal glass with a natural cork, each holding two Chincuil gusanos. Order mezcal online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
- ABV: 36% (72 proof)
- Size: 750mL
- Agave: Wild Salmiana (100% agave), San Luis Potosí
- Style: Joven — rested in white oak casks
- Signature: Hand-blown bottle, natural cork, two gusanos
Wild Agave, Honest Mezcal
Most mezcal starts with cultivated Espadín; La Penca goes wilder, with Salmiana — a broad-leafed agave that grows untamed in the high desert of San Luis Potosí, one of Mexico's mezcal denomination-of-origin states. The piñas roast in the traditional way, the spirit rests briefly in white oak, and the result keeps its desert character: earthy, vegetal, and lightly smoky rather than polished. Then there's the presentation — a hand-blown bottle, a real cork, and two gusanos coiled at the bottom, the old Oaxacan tradition in full view. See more La Penca mezcal, browse the mezcal collection, or compare it with other joven agave spirits.
Tasting Notes
Earthy agave, desert herbs, and light woodsmoke on the nose with a mineral edge. The palate is rustic and savory — roasted agave, green vegetal notes, soft oak — finishing dry with lingering smoke and earth.
How to Enjoy
Sip it neat at room temperature, the traditional way — or with orange slices and sal de gusano on the side. It also adds wild character to a smoky Margarita.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Salmiana agave?
A wild agave species (Agave salmiana) native to central Mexico, broader-leafed than the common Espadín, giving a more rustic, earthy mezcal.
Are the worms real?
Yes — each bottle contains two Chincuil gusanos, following the traditional (if debated) Oaxacan custom.
Is La Penca a real mezcal?
Yes — 100% agave, produced in San Luis Potosí, a mezcal denomination-of-origin state.
For the mezcal drinker who likes it wild — buy La Penca Joven Mezcal online from Del Mesa Liquor, ready for pickup or delivery in San Diego, CA.