Rezpiral Agave Artisans & Spirits
Posted on October 30, 2020 in New Arrivals
Rezpiral Agave Artisans & Spirits
Rezpiral is a spirits label, project and fair trade practice that brings beautiful selections of the highest quality traditional artisanal single-batch (non-certified) Mezcals into a handful of places in the USA. At the core of the project is the embrace of an ethos that aims to respect and support the multi-generational knowledge, independence, flavors, lands and ways of each mezcalero family with whom we work. The project upholds quality and value, working from batch to batch, bringing to market an eclectic selection of spirits, each complex and excellent.
Rezpiral’s small scale allows for the advocacy of diversity on different levels, from supporting the autonomy of producers & their continued production of single batch artisanal agave distillates to the preservation of local land control. These ethics seek to contribute to the countering of industrial standardization and cultural appropriation of this family & pueblo produced spirit and culture of excellence.
Ecologically, seeding and planting practice is key to sustainability, autonomy and sustenance, and its something independent artisans have been doing for years. Rezpiral actively supports master artisans in planting and managing agave. Rezpiral believes that the burden of planting and protecting varieties should not fall completely on the shoulders of the artisan campesino, but be shared by the consumer. Our nursery program promotes and practices this idea (see Vivero). Rezpiral also redirects 30% of its earnings back into supporting producer’s farming costs and practices
Rezpiral works with and bottles select small batch (typically between 100 and 250 liter) agave spirits from a handful of traditional farmer artisans of different regions whose spirits hold and emanate their own styles, complexities, agave varietals and terroir. These spirits are made available to states across the USA.
Core producers/partners:
- Aureliano Hernandez, San Baltazar Guelevila
- Berta Vasquez, San Baltazar Chichicapam
- Simeon Ramírez, San Agustín Amatengo
- Reina Sanchez, San Luis Amatlan
Past, recently joined or occasional producers/partners:
- Abel Martínez, Santo Domingo Albarradas
- Eduardo Angeles, Santa Catarina Minas
- Ignacio Antonio Santiago, San Vicente Coatlan
- Leonardo, San Baltazar Guelevila
2020, series #5, first release: seventeen complex artisanal small batch agave spirits.
From Berta Vasquez of San Baltazar Chichicapam, 45 liters of Mexicano from a 150 liter batch, Tepextate, Espadin, Tobala/Tepextate ensamble (2/3 & 1/3), Cuish and a Cuish/Tobala/Tepextate ensamble.
From Aureliano Hernandez of San Baltazar Guelevila a 130 liter batch of Pechuga de Café, a 400 liter batch of Arroqueño and 200 liter batch of Coyote.
From Abel Martinez of Santo Domingo Albarradas, a 180 liter batch of Jabali/Mexicano, a 2019 180 liter batch of Tobala.
From Simeon Ramirez of San Agustin Amatengo a 100 liter batch of Espadin & Piñuela, a 40 liter batch of Piñuela, a 100 liter batch of Mexicano & Tepeztate.
From Reina Sanchez of San Luis Amatlan, a 200 liter 2018 batch of Tepextate, and Madrecuish.
From Ignacio Antonio of San Vicente Coatlan, a 120 liter batch of Espadin.
Labels in this series were designed with colored pencil, digitalized and printed offset, with silk screen printing.
Additional Resources:
Rezpiral Website
Profit Sharing at Rezpiral
Information on the current series, current and past producers
The agave nursery and educational center of Rezpiral
NY Times article on Rezpiral and other Mezcal reviews