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In drinks, as in all things, it\u2019s good to have your expectations or preconceptions completely blown out of the water from time to time. My first uttered words upon tasting the Artesanal Arroque\u00f1o agave distillate from Paquera are not exactly suitable for print, but the gist was \u201cWow.\u201d The world of mezcal is fascinating for a myriad of reasons, from its lengthy cultural history to its many unique production methods<\/a>. But the sheer flavor spectrum found within the agave spirit category is genuinely mind blowing, and the Artesanal Arroque\u00f1o<\/a> from Paquera is a great example.<\/p>\n The Artesanal Arroque\u00f1o is labeled destilado de agave, literally agave distillate, rather than mezcal. More and more producers are opting not to obtain the legal certification<\/a> of the mezcal name, a process that can be both logistically and financially prohibitive, especially for smaller producers. But the mission of U.S.-based Paquera, founded in 2018, has been to bring traditionally made agave spirits to a wider market, working with a co-op<\/a> to bring the producers into the spotlight.<\/p>\n The Paquera Artesanal Arroque\u00f1o is produced by the Vasquez family in San Esteban Amatl\u00e1n, Oaxaca, with Teodolo Vasquez (one of 4 brothers and one sister who run the operation) serving as head mezcalero. Made from 12-year-old Arroque\u00f1o agave cooked in a conical earthen oven and macerated with a horse-drawn tahona, the spirit ferments in open, pine barrels and is distilled twice in copper. To attempt to encapsulate the living universe of aromas and flavors found within the final spirit in a few succinct words would be woefully insufficient. I simply urge you to grab a bottle while you can, sip it neat from your favorite copita, and have your mind blown. $98.99, paqueramezcal.com<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n