The Lost Explorer Mezcal, a handcrafted mezcal cultivated on ancestral Miztec land in the sun-soaked Valles Centrales, Oaxaca, is set to launch in the UK at the end of this month.
Co-founders David de Rothschild and Thor Björgólfsson set out with a mission to create a brand that empowers people to explore and appreciate their environment, foster social good, and promote curious living. Enlisting the expertise of Maestro Mezcalero Don Fortino Ramos, the spirit is a toast to empowering sustainable Mexican enterprise and protecting the ancient artisanal craft, heritage and biodiversity of Mexico.
Harvested in harmony with the elements and nature, the three uniquely profiled varietals – Espadín, Tobalá and Salmiana – seek to inspire consumers to live curiously and explore the wonder and diversity of agave.
Each small batch is distilled on the edge of the San Pablo Huixtepec, Oaxaca, and handcrafted by Ramos, who for the past 40 years has dedicated himself to mastering the art of distilling mezcal. Together with his daughter, Xitlali and the local mezcal-producing community in Oaxaca, their sustainable approach honours artisanal methods, tapping into the luxury trend towards craftsmanship that is fuelling the category growth of mezcal today.
Each dramatic non-annular agave is respectfully harvested one-by-one at the precise moment of ideal ripeness before being cooked using local recycled wood in earthen ovens, ground and macerated, fermented in open-top wooden barrels, and double-distilled in a copper alembic still. The high-quality spirits are the bottled in recycled crystal glass bottles, hand-labelled and sealed using a natural cork and fully biodegradable beeswax.
“Mezcal production is a long-standing source of employment not only for me and my family, but for the entire local community in Oaxaca,” Ramos comments. “Today, we easily see the multiple generations contribute in various ways. Crafting the Lost Explorer Mezcal has been no exception, and our three varietals are a product of multiple hands from multiple families here in Mexico.”
The Lost Explorer Mezcal is committed to the sustainable production of high-quality handcrafted spirits in a manner that benefits the local mezcal-producing community in Oaxaca and protects the land’s biodiversity. Commitments in place include the Mezcalero being a shareholder in the company, rainwater conservation, re-cycled wood burning used, replanting at least three agaves for every agave distilled, fertiliser created from agave waste and solar panels being installed to harness energy for power generation and water heating.
Upon launch, The Lost Explorer Mezcal will be available in the United States, Mexico and the United Kingdom. Proof Drinks, specialising in the importing, distribution, sales and marketing of premium drinks brands since 2010, will be the sole distributor in the United Kingdom.
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