San Francisco’s Anchor Distilling Company introduces Mezcal Amarás to the United States. Translated as ‘you will love’ in Spanish, Mezcal Amarás is hand-crafted by a collaboration of 5 master mezcaleros in the village of San Juan del Río in Oaxaca, Mexico. Mezcal Amarás reflects more than 400 years of traditional production techniques, and is made exclusively from locally farmed ingredients.
“Over the last several years, we’ve been presented with a number of opportunities to bring Mezcal to the U.S. market. Amarás is the first one that I think combines the authenticity of the terroir with a taste profile and quality acceptable to the American palate,” says David King, President of Anchor Distilling. “This is a crowd pleaser!”
This traditional mezcal is made from Espadín agave plants grown on the hills surrounding San Juan del Rio, which are harvested at their optimum maturity by Jimadores, and roasted for 5 days in conical stone ovens over sustainable Holm Oak logs. Next, the agave hearts are ground on a horse drawn Egyptian mill, which creates an extract that naturally ferments in open pine containers for up to 13 days. Finally, the liquid is slowly distilled twice in copper pot stills, a process which removes impurities, refines the character of the mezcal, and produces a soft, smooth flavor with a slightly smoked, citric aroma.
Founder Santiago Suarez explains, “Each decision made by the master mezcalero during the process affects the final result of the mezcal. Most of these craftsmen have come from a long lineage of mezcaleros and began to learn their craft at an early age, and their personalities are reflected in the mezcal they create.” Each bottle is signed and numbered by hand by a master mezcalero in the Palenque (distillery), and the label is designed to capture the local spirit of Oaxaca and the founders’ love for their Mexican heritage.
Mezcal Amarás is committed to supporting the local community and economy of Oaxaca, a philosophy which is reflected in the brand’s use of sustainable farming practices. Five new agaves are planted for each one that is harvested for mezcal production, and in 2014, over 28,000 espadin and cupreata agaves were planted by Mezcal Amarás representatives. The brand is also highly engaged in community initiatives, and aims to launch local nutrition and health education programs in the near future.
For more information on Mezcal Amarás, visit AnchorDistilling.com.
