Neta Tepextate Agave Spirit Daniel Cruz Maldonado

Neta Tepextate Agave Spirit Daniel Cruz Maldonado 750ml

Having worked for decades in the palenques of don Nicolás and his compadre, Cutberto Aquino, this 90-liter pure Tepextate production was the first batch that maestro Daniel Cruz Maldonado made in his own newly constructed palenque, adjacent to the family’s home in Logoche, Miahuatlán. Approximately 4000kg of ripe Tepextate was harvested from rocky red and purple soil parcel of family land in neighboring Lachigüizo during the days surrounding the full moon of January 2023. Cut from steep slopes and ravines, about 10cm of the base of the leaf, or penca, was left attached the piñas to allow them to be rolled downhill without being bruised or splitting into pieces. The penca holds extra pectin and water, but also quite a bit of sugar that can still be fermented and distilled; its inclusion provides a stronger bouquet and a more profound and complex flavor profile on the palate.

Maguey(es): Tepextate

Provenance of the maguey: wild harvested from family land

Producer: Daniel Cruz Maldonado

Region: Logoche, Miahuatlán

Soil type: rocky red and purple earth, tierra colorada y morada § Rest time after harvest: Six days

Oven: Conical earthen pit; eight days with mesquite

Rest time after oven: 24 hours

Maceration: Ox-drawn stone mill

Fermentation: Native yeasts and well water; four 1100L food grade plastic tubs, each with approx. 550kg of cooked agave and 550 liters of well water

Dry fermentation time: 12 hours

Wet fermentation time: 24 hours

Distillation: 2x in a copper pot still

Final composition: Heads, hearts, and a select cut of high proof tails

Batch size: 90

Date of distillation: April 2023

48.4%Alc/Vol