Nucano mezcal

Nucano mezcal is distilled in San Dionisio Ocotepec, Oaxaca. The various mezcals are still produced according to traditional methods. The agaves that grow between 8 and 17 years are expertly harvested by the Jimador. The agaves are then cooked in the kettle-shaped ground oven for 4 days.. After cooling, the agave hearts are ground in a mill pulled by a horse. After 3 days of fermentation, it is time for the double distillation in a copper kettle over a fireplace.

Mezcal obtains its quality from the agave that is used and how long it has been able to grow.

The types of agave are:

Espadin: This is the most common type of Agave and accounts for 90% of the mezcal production. The taste is reminiscent of tequila. Espadin is therefore the ancestor of the blue agave from which tequila is made.
Cuishe: This agave is usually harvested in the wild and is a rarer than the Espadin. This agave is characterized by a slightly spicier taste with floral notes.
Tepextate: A wild agave that takes a long time to mature and remains uncommon. Mezcal of this kind can therefore only be made when this Tepextate is available. This agave brings an intense earthy and spicy flavor.
Tobala: This wild agave grows at a great height and keeps a rocky surface. Unlike other agave species, the agave relies on birds and bats to disperse its seeds. The agave is also still quite small and there is little available to make mezcal. The agave does have an intense flavor. Due to its rarity and taste, this agave is also called the "king of the mezcal". The taste is fruity and complex.

For those who love the real agave taste, there are mezcals that do not ripen in barrels. In this way, the real taste is preserved. These types are called “joven” mezcal. When agaves ripen in barrels, the flavor profile changes and some of the pure agave flavor is lost.

Nucano has managed to produce a wonderful series by using different types of agaves and by choosing both “Joven” and matured mezcals:

Nucano Espadin Joven is made from 8 year old Espadin agave and is not matured in barrels. This makes the smoky and floral characteristics of the agave and production still clearly distinguishable. A good introduction to the world of mezcal. Double Gold medal at the “San Francisco World Spirit Competition 2018”.
Nucano Espadin Reposado is made from 8 year old Espadin agave and aged for 8 to 12 months in American oak barrels. The taste is soft and fresh with characteristics of pineapple and cinnamon. A somewhat lighter “easy to drink” mezcal.
Nucano Espadin Anejo is made from 8 year old Espadin Agave and aged 3 to 5 years in American oak barrels. This creates the beautiful dark color and a soft and sweet taste. The flavors from the barrel are clearly reflected in the taste. Hints of vanilla, coffee and chocolate. This mezcal has flavors reminiscent of good whiskey.
Nucano Tobala Joven is made from 12 year old very rare Tobala agave. This agave gives the mezcal a complex fruity and sweet taste. A real high quality mezcal!
Nucano Cuishe Joven is made from the Cuishe Agave. This agave has been allowed to grow for no less than 15 years before it is harvested. The result is a strong earthy mineral-like agave flavor as known from the Cuishe agave. This mezcal has won double Gold at the “San Francisco World Spirit Competition 2019”.
Nucano Tepextate Joven made from 17 year old rare Tepextate agave. A powerful, slightly bitter taste of agave. This mezcal has a strong finish.