Mezcal Vago Espadin "Joel Barriga" Mezcal 750ml

Mezcal Vago traces its origin to a chance encounter in Oaxaca, where co-founder Judah Kuper met and fell in love with a nurse during a hospital visit. Her father, Aquilino García, was a subsistence farmer who also made mezcal, and together with Judah and his friend Dylan Sloan, they launched Vago in 2013. Joel Barriga, Aquilino's cousin, joined the project a few years later after working closely with Aquilino to refine his craft, and his Espadín release became a permanent addition to the Vago lineup, marked by its own gold label.

Don Joel produces his mezcal in Hacienda Tapanalá, a high desert oasis where he uses natural spring water throughout fermentation. The agave is cooked in an in-ground earthen pit, crushed by tahona, and fermented naturally in wooden tanks before double distillation in small copper pot stills. Joel takes a notably deep distillation cut compared to other Vago mezcaleros, a choice that concentrates the spirit's inherent sweetness and fruit character.

The nose is creamy and earthy with a touch of spearmint, layered over garden herbs like oregano and lemon balm. On the palate, caramelized agave and a crème brûlée richness give way to grilled pineapple, honey, and caramelized banana, while a refreshing lime and limestone note carries through to a cool, mineral-tinged finish.