Zinacantan Papalometl Mezcal
Zinacantan Papalometl Mezcal is a single-distillation agave spirit from 100% wild Agave potatorum — the small, prized agave called tobala in Oaxaca and papalometl in Puebla — made by maestra mezcalera Fabiola Torres Monfil in San Diego La Mesa Tochimiltzingo and bottled at 48% ABV in a 750mL bottle. Find it among the wild-agave highlights of our mezcal collection.
- Style: Mezcal artesanal (uncertified agave spirit), single distillation
- ABV: 48% (96 proof)
- Size: 750mL
- Producer: Fabiola Torres Monfil, Zinacantan
- Region: San Diego La Mesa Tochimiltzingo, Puebla, Mexico
Wild Tobala, Grown From Seed and Given Back
Papalometl plants are small and low in fermentable sugars, so a batch takes a large number of wild plants — a real over-harvesting risk. Fabiola Torres Monfil and co-founder Diana Pinzon have answered by capping production (760 liters in 2022, 912 liters in 2023 for this expression) while planting 2,800 papalometl from seed to replenish wild populations. That is the Zinacantan model: founded in 2019, it is an agroforestry project first and a mezcal brand second, with strictly seasonal production and only about 1,000 liters made per year across all expressions.
The wild-harvested papalometl — gathered from the Sierra Mixteca Poblana — roasts in a conical earthen pit with huaje wood, is crushed by machete, hatchet and mechanical mill, and ferments for 30 days in open pine wood vats with ambient yeast and well water. One distillation in a copper pot, adjusted with heads and tails and no added water, brings it to proof.
Tasting Notes
Potatorum is the agave behind Oaxaca's most sought-after tobala bottlings, and this Puebla expression shows why: concentrated, wild and full-bodied at a straight-from-the-still 48%. Taste it next to Fabiola's wild angustifolia Silvestre Espadilla to compare two wild species from one village.
How to Enjoy
Sip neat in a copita, a few drops of water optional. It is a natural centerpiece gift for the agave obsessive — more ideas in our Holiday Gift Guide — and a fixture of our Rare & Top Shelf selection.
FAQ
What is papalometl? The Puebla name for Agave potatorum, the wild agave known as tobala in Oaxaca.
How is Zinacantan protecting the species? Production is deliberately capped and the project has planted 2,800 papalometl from seed to replenish wild populations.
Who makes it? Maestra mezcalera Fabiola Torres Monfil, a fourth-generation producer, with ecologist Diana Pinzon.
This Zinacantan Papalometl Mezcal is available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor, with nationwide shipping.