Palenque Espadin Alberto Ortiz y Onofre: discovering the terroir of Oaxaca

The Palenque Espadin Alberto Ortiz y Onofre is an agave distillate produced from the Maguey Espadin in the area of Bramaderos, Miahuatlán de Porfirio Díaz, Oaxaca, by Alberto and Onofre Ortiz, father and son as well as fourth and fifth generation palenqueros, who use personal recipes with a variety of agave blends: an ancient practice determined by the availability of the plants in the chosen field.

This project is the brainchild of Luca Gargano, who involved six producers from various villages in the state of Oaxaca, as well as the project coordinator Hector Vazquez. The idea is to create a map of the terroir of Oaxaca, of the various species of agave and the conditions in which they grow. The producers' approach is artisanal, with a few innovations, but they maintain a focus on the quality of the agave, the soil and the production process, each based on their own personal recipe.

This Palenque has a nose with deep chemical hints, fading into spicy, fruity, exotic and sour vegetable tones. The palate is full of a delicate, lactic sweetness, with notes of hazelnut, citrus and pineapple, and a touch of salt that gives way to the sweetness of ripe fruit and roasted corn on the finish.