Xicaru Silver 102 Mezcal

Xicaru Silver 102 Mezcal shines when sipped neat or with a single large ice cube, allowing its complex smoky and herbal notes to unfold on the palate. This versatile spirit also works beautifully in citrus-forward cocktails or as a bold base for spicy margarita variations, making it an excellent choice for warm summer evenings or pairing with grilled meats and rich, savory dishes.

Nose: Smoke and roasted agave dominate, backed by hints of citrus peel and fresh green herbs. There's a faint whiff of minerality, reminiscent of wet stones.

Palate: Bold and earthy with a pronounced smokiness. Cooked agave sweetness balances the intense mineral notes. Flavors of grilled pineapple and black pepper emerge, alongside a subtle medicinal quality typical of mezcal.

Finish: Long and warming. The smoke lingers, accompanied by a peppery spice that tingles the tongue. A slight saltiness and hint of lime zest round out the experience, leaving a clean, slightly astringent feeling.

Xicaru Silver 102 Mezcal is crafted using traditional methods in Oaxaca, Mexico, where ripe espadín agave hearts are roasted in underground pit ovens for 3-5 days before being crushed, fermented, and double-distilled in copper pot stills. What sets Xicaru apart is its higher-than-average 51% ABV, which allows more of the agave's complex flavors to shine through, resulting in a bold and expressive mezcal that truly captures the essence of its terroir.

• Xicaru Silver 102 Mezcal is made from wild agave Espadín that grows at an elevation of 5,000 feet in Oaxaca, Mexico. This high-altitude cultivation imparts a unique mineral complexity to the spirit that's rarely found in other mezcals.
• The master mezcalero behind Xicaru, Fernando Santibañez, uses a centuries-old technique of fermenting the agave in pine vats, which adds subtle notes of forest floor and pine resin to the mezcal's flavor profile.
• Xicaru Silver 102 is bottled at an unusually high proof of 102 (51% ABV), making it one of the strongest commercially available mezcals. This high alcohol content allows it to retain more of its natural flavors and aromas, resulting in an incredibly bold and expressive spirit.