{"product_id":"palenqueros-baltazar-cruz-sierra-negra-mezcal","title":"Palenqueros Baltazar Cruz Sierra Negra Mezcal","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePalenqueros Baltazar Cruz Sierra Negra Mezcal\u003c\/strong\u003e is a single-producer mezcal from the Palenqueros series created by Luca Gargano of Velier (La Maison \u0026amp; Velier), which bottles individual Oaxacan palenqueros under their own names. Maestro Baltazar Cruz Gomez makes this bottling in San Luis del Rio, a mezcal village in Oaxaca's Tlacolula district, from wild-harvested Sierra Negra (Agave americana) — a giant, slow-growing agave far less often bottled on its own than espadin. The pinas are cooked in an earthen pit oven, crushed under a mule-drawn stone tahona, fermented four days with wild yeast and distilled in a 300-liter copper pot still, then bottled uncut at still strength, 51% ABV (102 proof), in a 750mL bottle. Production runs only around 800 bottles per batch. It is available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eProof \/ ABV:\u003c\/strong\u003e 102 proof (51% ABV), still strength\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSize:\u003c\/strong\u003e 750mL\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAgave:\u003c\/strong\u003e Sierra Negra (Agave americana), wild-harvested\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eProducer:\u003c\/strong\u003e Baltazar Cruz Gomez, San Luis del Rio, Tlacolula, Oaxaca\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eProcess:\u003c\/strong\u003e Earthen pit oven, mule-drawn tahona, wild-yeast fermentation, 300L copper pot still\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBatch:\u003c\/strong\u003e Around 800 bottles\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eOne Maestro, One Wild Agave\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePalenqueros exists to put the maker's name on the front of the bottle: each release is one palenquero, one village and one agave, made the slow traditional way. Sierra Negra is the giant of the americana family — broad, stocky plants that can take well over a decade to mature — and Cruz's San Luis del Rio palenque treats it entirely by hand and animal power, from the pit oven to the tahona. Compare it with his neighbor in the series, the \u003ca href=\"\/products\/palenqueros-alberto-ortiz-espadin-mezcal\"\u003ePalenqueros Alberto Ortiz Espadin Mezcal\u003c\/a\u003e, or browse the wider \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/mezcal\"\u003emezcal\u003c\/a\u003e shelf.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eTasting Notes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eButterscotch and cream, ripe banana and melon on the nose, opening into sweetness and warm spice on the palate over earthy, mineral notes — rich and layered, with the wild agave's depth carrying the full still strength.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHow to Enjoy\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePour it neat in a copita and let it open slowly in the glass; a few drops of water stretch the fruit and spice. More single-village bottlings live across our \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/tequila\"\u003etequila and mezcal\u003c\/a\u003e shelves and the \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/rare-top-shelf\"\u003erare and top shelf\u003c\/a\u003e collection.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat is Sierra Negra agave?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSierra Negra is a variety of Agave americana — a very large, slow-maturing wild agave. Mezcal made from it is uncommon because the plants are scarce and take many years to reach harvest size.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhy is it bottled at 51% ABV?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePalenqueros bottlings are released at natural still strength, uncut. This Sierra Negra came off the copper pot still and into the bottle at 51% ABV, the way Cruz's village drinks it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow does it differ from the other Palenqueros releases?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eEach Palenqueros bottle is a different producer and agave: Baltazar Cruz works with wild Sierra Negra in San Luis del Rio, while the Ortiz family bottles Espadin and Mexicano and Valente Garcia bottles Madrecuishe.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFind this small batch at Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA — around 800 bottles of wild Sierra Negra, and then it is gone.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Palenqueros","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":68106461806635,"sku":"DM17689L","price":99.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1277\/3667\/files\/palenqueros-baltazar-cruz-sierra-negra-mezcal-600x800.jpg?v=1793649176","url":"https:\/\/www.delmesaliquor.com\/products\/palenqueros-baltazar-cruz-sierra-negra-mezcal","provider":"Del Mesa Liquor","version":"1.0","type":"link"}