El Especial forms a limited series showcasing spirits produced from rare and wild agaves. Sourced from batches too small to be considered for mezcal certification, these spirits represent traditional subsistence mezcalero culture. Each batch is unique and un-repeatable.
JX1 comes from Jose Garcia. As the son and business partner of our original Mezcalero, Atenogenes Garcia, Jose is a founding pillar and core member of the Pensador Collective. His productions share a family resemblance with his father’s, but with a preference for rare agaves and experimental ensambles. Batch JX1 is a case in point.
Cucharilla is technically not an agave, but is locally considered to be a type of maguey. This means it has a significant degree of genetic differentiation and an unusual and distinctive flavour profile - think musty earthy tones in a barbecue marinade. Throw in some big hitting agaves - Tepextate, Bicuishe, and Tobala – and you have a very complex and very exciting liquid. What our Especial series is all about.
The nose on JX1 is disctictive with fresh cut grass, sandlewood, and citrus, but the palate is the real journey: kicking off with jasmine and camomile, followed by fresh herbs and grapefruit zest, before rounding off with biscuits, caramel, and earthy minerals. Try pairing with green olives for an umami bomb.