AGAVES

by MILPA COLLECTIVE

MEZCAL
The most complex spirit in the world.

Mezcal is often thought of as the smokier cousin of tequila, but this is far from an accurate representation of the world’s most complex spirit. More than just a drink, mezcal has for centuries been an ingrained part of the cultural, ritual and traditional life of Mexico’s indigenous peoples, used to celebrate birth, death, marriage and everything in between.

Both mezcal and tequila are made using agave — a large, spiky succulent endemic to Mexico — but the flavour proles and complexity of the two spirits dier greatly. And while tequila is often mass-produced using agave that is aged for the minimum amount of time, any agave fruit used to make mezcal needs to mature on the ground for at least 7 years and up to 35 years — and that’s before the harvesting, cooking, distillation and ageing process even begins. It’s often said that mezcal is the only spirit with a built-in ageing process. In turn, this contributes to the nuance and diversity of expression that you will nd from bottle to bottle.

When we talk about wine, we talk about terroir — the flavours that a particular plot of land, influenced by the climate and the soil, will eventually bring out in your glass. Moreso than any other drink, mezcal is the ultimate expression of terroir. Depending on whether it’s grown in the hills or the valleys of Mexico, it can taste of sweetness or minerality; of mangoes or smoked molasses. While the process of cooking the agave fruit underground imparts smokiness to the drink, mezcal can also be light and cleansing. For every palate, there is a mezcal to suit it.

At Milpa Collective, we want to celebrate mezcal in its purest and most traditional form, and in all its diversity of flavour.

We hope you enjoy!

NO. I /05

MEZCALS OF JOY

To be enjoyed with friends,
anywhere, anytime.

If you’re just starting your mezcal journey, these are a good place to start — to ease you into the flavours, to satisfy curious souls, and to awaken a sense of happiness and exuberance. They are complex but not pretentious, and will make you want to drink more of them.

ESPADÍN
AGAVE ANGUSTIFOLIA

REGION | Oaxaca, Guerrero, Puebla, Jalisco, Sonora, Nayarit, Durango
AROMA | Cooked agave, mint, pepper
TASTE | Peppermint, green pepper and hints of agave with a sharp finish

BACANORA
AGAVE ANGUSTIFOLIA

REGION | Sonora
AROMA | Pine, herbs, mineral
TASTE | Smoked molasses, green pepper, peppermint candy

COYOTE
AGAVE AMERICANA VAR. OAXACENSIS

REGION | Oaxaca
AROMA | Crushed gravel, cooked agave, sweet capsicum
TASTE | Pepper, green apple, mint

PAPALOMÉ
AGAVE CUPREATA / A. POTATORUM

REGION | Guerrero, Puebla, Oaxaca, Michoacan
AROMA | Floral, tropical fruits
TASTE | Watermelon candy, pineapple, pepermint

NO. II /05

MEZCALS OF SENSUALITY

To open up a new world of
sensorial experience.

These mezcals are kind and gentle —some could even be appreciated as sweet. The flavour profiles you’ll encounter in these agaves contain everything that delights the mind and the heart. Open your senses and experience a new kind of sensual enjoyment and pleasure.

TOBALÁ
AGAVE POTATORUM

REGION | Oaxaca, Puebla
AROMA | Cedar smoke, floral, metallic
TASTE | Banana, custard cream, ripe pineapple

ARROQUEÑO
AGAVE AMERICANA

REGION | Oaxaca, Puebla
AROMA | Honey, sage, clay, banana
TASTE | Ripe pineapple, banana, citrus, cotija cheese

KARWINSKII FAMILY
AGAVE KARWINSKI

REGION | Oaxaca, Puebla
AROMA | Green herbs, jasmine, earthy, mineral
TASTE | Pine, mineral, sweet grass

JABALÍ
AGAVE CONVALIS

REGION | Oaxaca
AROMA | Floral, tropical fruits, banana
TASTE | Banana, candy, ripe pineapple, bubblegum

NO. III /05

MEZCALS OF WISDOM

To be experienced with all senses.

These mezcals are a true expression of terroir and the cosmic energy of Mexico’s indigenous lands. They invite you to explore the ancestral knowledge of their makers via smooth and silky drinks that will allow you to feel a new sense of wisdom and calmness.

TEPEZTATE
AGAVE MARMORATA

REGION | Oaxaca
AROMA | Grass, herbs
TASTE | Pear, papaya, aniseed, mineral

MEXICANO
AGAVE RODHACANTA

REGION | Oaxaca, Puebla
AROMA | Floral, herbs, chalk
TASTE | Lavender, hibiscus, pineapple

NO. IV /05

MEZCALS OF THE IMPOSSIBLE

To push boundaries and fuel the imagination.

These mezcals are understood to be unique and even outright bizarre. The drinks on this list invite you to explore the unknown through intense aromas that are juxtaposed with smooth finishes. Let your imagination fly.

SOTOL
DASYLIRION

REGION | Coahuila, Chihuahua, Durango
AROMA | Mineral, earth, blue cheese, terracotta
TASTE | Nuts, herbs, cloves

RAICILLA
AGAVE MAXIMILIANA, INAEQUEDENSIS, AMARILLO, LECHUGUILLA, MASPARILLO, ANGISTIFOLIA, CENIZO

REGION | Jalisco, Nayarit, Durango
AROMA | Jalapeño, olive brine, blue cheese
TASTE | Leather, cream, pine

CENIZO
AGAVE DURANGUENSIS

REGION | Durango
AROMA | Mineral, tropical fruits, black pepper
TASTE | Wet leaves, cedar smoke, butter

SALMIANA
AGAVE SALMIANA CRASSISPINA

REGION | San Luis Potosí
AROMA | Jalapeño, olive brine, cream cheese
TASTE | Green capsicum, grass, flowers

CHACALENO
MAGUEY CHACALENO, ANGUSTIFOLIA

REGION | Durango
AROMA | Mineral, anise, sage, chalk
TASTE | Mint, pepper, green agave

NO. V /05

MEZCALS OF CELEBRATION

To make you happy.

Shared with friends, these mezcals will transform your individual joy into a collective state of happiness. They embody a Mexican fiesta and help to create a sense of belonging. Not just for everyday drinking, their uniqueness reflects the cultural complexity and rich history of Mexico. We invite you to enjoy and to join in on this joyous sense of ritual and tradition.

PECHUGA / INFUSED

The most widely recognised ‘Pechuga’ uses espadin agave infused with turkey breast and fruit — but mezcaleros, the traditional makers of mezcal, can use any type of agave and infuse it with any type of flavour.

REGION | All around Mexico
NOTES | Varies depending the bottle

ENSAMBLES / BLENDS

The enormous range of agaves and flavours allow the mezcaleros to play around and mix different quantities of agave to achieve new profiles, which enhance the qualities of the original mezcal variety.

Here are some of our favorites.

TEQUILA
BLUE AGAVE TEQUILA WEBER

Tequila is the legal name for one type of mezcal. Like mezcal, tequila has a regulated Appellation of Origin (Denominacion de Origen, or DO) and can only be made in the states of Jalisco, Guanajuato, Tamaulipas, Nayarit and Michoacan. Not all tequila is equal, either. At Milpa Collective, we stock only tequila brands made by producers who respect the agave plant and the tequila-making process, all sustainably sourced and family-owned. So that you can appreciate what this spirit is really capable of.

AGING

BLANCO | No ageing, though sometimes these tequilas are rested in neutral holding tanks for up to two months
REPOSADO | Matured in oak barrels for at least two months and up to one year
AÑEJO | Matured in oak barrels with a capacity no larger than 600 litres for at least one year and up to three years
EXTRA/AÑEJO | Matured in small oak barrels for at least three years
CRISTALINO | Reposado, Añejo or Extra Añejo tequila that has been filtered with activated charcoal

AGAVE FLIGHTS

Experience the rich diversity of agave spirits with curated flights of tequila, mezcal, and wild agaves. Each flight reveals unique flavours and traditions, offering a true taste of Mexico. Ask our staff for details and recommendations!

TEQUILA CLÁSICO $30

TEQUILA PREMIUM $60

MEZCAL INTRODUCTION $35

MEZCAL WILD $60

¡Para todo mal, mezcal
y para todo bien, también!

“For everything bad, mezcal,
and for everything good as well”