Cristalino semi-reposado ensemble - Matatlán

Batch: JSM-01

Release date: December 2024

At a glance:

  • Maguey: Tobala (A.Potatorum), Tepextate (A.Marmorata), Cuishe (A.KArwinski)
  • Producer: José Santiago López
  • Region: Santiago Matatlán, Tlacolula District, Oaxaca Central Valleys
  • Cooking: Stone-walled in-earth horno
  • Milling: Machete & horse drawn tahona
  • Fermentation: Slatted wooden tinas
  • Distillation: Double pass in copper alembic
  • Composition: Heads, hearts and tails
  • Batch size: 50 litres
  • Date of production: 2019-202
  • ABV: 61.9%

In the heart of the ‘world capital of Mezcal’, Santiago Matatlán, José Santiago López has established a significant palenque as producer for more than one export brand.

While hanging out for a birthday party following an invitation from friends behind the Oaxaca-based tour business Rambling Spirits, we happened across something quite exceptional.

José regularly works with a wide range of agave species and one day towards the end of 2019 was working with an ensemble of Tobala (A.Potatorum), Tepextate (A.Marmorata), and Cuishe (A.Karwinski).

The agaves were some of the first cooked in his new stone-lined horno, before being crushed under this classic stone horse-drawn tahona.

Fermentation followed the classic central valley style - open air in large slatted wooden vats.

  • A huge outside oven used to cook pina's for mezcal
  • a stone tahona for milling and barrels for storing mezcal
  • production of the Cristalino Semi-Reposado Ensemble - Matatlán, small batch Mezcal available exclusively at Sin Gusano

The distillation stage of this batch is where the magic happened.

Again in keeping with the central valley style, everything is double distilled in classic copper alembics. After the first pass, Jose regularly stores that single distilled liquid, or ‘ordinario’ overnight in his large plastic drums before making the second distillation the next day.

  • A copper pot still with wood fire underneath for making mezcal
  • mezcal pouring from a tube in a wall down into a stone chamber
  • the copper pot still and clay chamber for making mezcal

50 litres of the larger batch didn’t fit into the plastic drums, so Jose put those litres in an empty oak barrel that wasn’t being used in the palenque. The next morning he continued with the second distillation, but forgot to add the barrel litres back to the rest of the batch.

6 months later, upon opening the barrel for another use, Jose found the 6 months aged ordinario ensemble.

So, around mid-2020, he took that amber coloured aged liquid and distilled it a second time, creating a crystal clear reposado ensemble of these very rarely ages agaves.

An extremely unusual, accidental creation, and quite something to behold.

  • barrels ageing Cristalino Semi-Reposado Ensemble - Matatlán, small batch Mezcal available exclusively at Sin Gusano

    Barrels for an ageing project at José’s palenque

  • The barrel holding forgotten mezcal quietly aging surrounded by clutter

    The barrel in which this batch was forgotten

Multicolumn

Multicolumn

Jose, creator of the Cristalino semi-reposado ensemble - Matatlán mezcal

Gracias José

House Tasting Notes:

Nose: Intense yet round woody maple on the nose, with notes of old dusty library.

Palate: Then it’s an absolute flavour explosion on first sip. Herbal tones from the Tepextate unexpectedly layering over that aged oaky profile, and eucalyptus flavours - presumably from some magic mix of the Cuishe and Tobala - sneaking into the mid-palate.

Finish: Everything slowly fades into a long, complex, and pleasingly warm finish. Warm, but not to hot for this extremely punchy 62% abv. Take it easy with this one!

Cristalino Semi-Reposado Ensemble - Matatlán, small batch Mezcal available exclusively at Sin Gusano

Grab a bottle for your collection while stocks last:

TAKE A LOOK
Sin Gusano Mezcal Appreciation Society logo black

Become a member and learn more about mezcal

Where your passion for mezcal transforms into a journey of discovery and delight. As a member, you'll gain exclusive access to curated tastings, educational events, and insider knowledge from industry experts.

Whether you're a seasoned enthusiast or a curious newcomer, our community provides a welcoming space to explore, share, and savour mezcal like never before. Join us and immerse yourself in the art and culture of mezcal, one sip at a time.

BECOME A CONNOISSEUR