Barril - Chichicapam

Batch: FH-02

Release date: February 2022

a group filling the outside oven with pinas to make mezcal
a group filling the outside oven with pinas to make mezcal

At a glance:

  • Producer: Fortunato & Victoria Hernandez
  • Agave: Barril ((A. Karwinski)
  • Region: San Baltazar Chichicapam, Ocotlán, Oaxaca
  • Distillation style: Copper alembic, double passed
  • ABV: 47.6%

Above: Fortunato with his wife Victoria and the rest of the team, preparing a roast

In the Ocotlán valley of central Oaxaca sits the community of San Baltazar Chichicapam, and within that the co-operative palenqe pictured below. Local mezcaleros without their own equipment can use the co-op for a fee of 2 litres of finished mezcal per filled fermentation vat.

This is where Fortunato, along with his wife Victoria, have for years been making their batches, and where we first met them in 2016. This batch of Barril is the last of theirs to come out of the co-op, and provided Fortunato the necessary funds to put the roof on his own brand new palenque, which was constructed in 2020 and is now operational.

Fortunato works with a wide variety of agave, but this batch is 100% Barril (A.Karwinski).

Fortunato works with a wide variety of agave, but this batch is 100% Barril (A.Karwinski). The roast is a classic earthen hono, milling by machete (see vid below) and horse drawn tahona. Fermentation happens in classic wooden tinas. Everything is double distilled in a classic copper alembic.

The co-operative palenque in Chichicapam

The co-operative palenque in Chichicapam

Fortunato showing us a roasted agave Barril

Fortunato showing us a roasted agave Barril

Victoria overseeing the mill at the co-op palenque

Victoria overseeing the mill at the co-op palenque

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Gracias to Fortunato & Victoria for another winning batch. And watch this space for the first batch out of their new independent palenque.

House Tasting Notes:

Rich sweet English marmalade and mild smoke on the nose gives way to spiced Mexican chamoy on the palate. Deliciously balanced mid-palate of sweet, spice, and smoke, fade into a tingly finish leaving you wanting another sweet sip.

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