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A Journey from the Heart of Mezcal
- Sales Team
- 2 days ago
- 6 min read
Unveiling Nuestra Soledad
Step into the captivating world of Nuestra Soledad Mezcal, where every sip tells a story of tradition, terroir, and the masterful touch of generations. Forget everything you thought you knew about mezcal; this isn't just a spirit, it's a vibrant tapestry woven from the very soul of Oaxaca.
Traditionally, each village in Oaxaca boasts a distinct mezcal, a unique reflection of its distillery, soil, water, wood, and the inimitable artistry of the Maestro Mezcalero (Master Mezcal Distiller). Nuestra Soledad embraces this cherished heritage, offering a truly special experience: a single village mezcal that invites you to explore the subtle yet profound differences between some of Oaxaca's most iconic distilling communities.
The Soul of Oaxaca in Every Bottle
Nuestra Soledad, a name that reveres Our Lady the Virgin of Solitude, Oaxaca City's patron saint, is born from an ancient tradition. It's a handcrafted "elixir of the gods," meticulously produced to preserve centuries-old methods of cultivation and distillation.
This isn't just a mezcal; it's a celebration of Oaxaca's diverse landscapes and enduring traditions. The legendary Cortés family, renowned for their acclaimed El Jolgorio mezcals, hand-selects each palenque (distillery) for Nuestra Soledad. Here, 100% Espadín agave is transformed into distinct mezcals using time-honoured Zapotec methods. Imagine sustainably cultivated agave, wood-fire roasted in earthen pits, wild fermented in open-air vats, and distilled in traditional copper pot stills.
Nuestra Soledad proudly showcases the unique character of six prominent villages:
A Family Legacy
Nuestra Soledad is a cherished part of the Casa Cortés portfolio, a testament to six generations of mezcal production expertise dating back to 1840. The Casa Cortés family stands as a pillar of the mezcal world, with a portfolio that also includes Agave de Cortés and El Jolgorio, each offering a unique concept. This special partnership brings together fourteen different families from across Oaxaca, all united by a shared passion.
Every Casa Cortés mezcalero has their own remarkable story, yet they all share a common goal: to safeguard the mezcal tradition. They do this by strictly adhering to traditional production methods, deeply respecting the environment, and laying a strong foundation for future generations of mezcaleros.
A Melting Pot of Culture and Flavour
Nestled in the far south of Mexico, the state of Oaxaca is a vibrant mosaic of cultures. For over 7,000 years, it has been home to diverse societies, including the Zapotec, Mixtec, and Aztec. The enduring presence of its indigenous population is a vital asset for preserving native traditions. Infused with European cultures and languages through colonisation, Oaxaca truly is a melting pot, a dynamic bastion of diversity.
This incredible environmental and cultural diversity, combined with the human element of production, results in six uniquely distinct mezcals for Nuestra Soledad a remarkable feat, given that all six are crafted from the single agave variety: Espadín.
Ready to embark on your own journey through the rich flavours of Oaxaca?
"Para todo mal, mezcal. Y para todo bien, también."
(For everything bad, mezcal; for everything good, also mezcal.)
Santiago Matatlán: The Heartbeat of Mezcal
Often hailed as the epicentre of traditional mezcal production, the rural town of Santiago Matatlán, just east of Oaxaca City, beats with the rhythm of generations. While many Oaxacan villages are known for a specific craft, Matatlán's fame, for centuries, has been its celebrated mezcal. The Espadín agave for this Nuestra Soledad expression thrives at elevations of 5,500 to 5,900 feet in a mountain canyon, a landscape teeming with agave diversity. Amidst breathtaking vistas, these Espadín plants are sustainably cultivated, sharing their home with wild Tepeztate, Tobalá, and Coyote agaves. Here, Mezcalero Gregorio Martinez Jarquín, a revered figure in the mezcal community, has dedicated his life to the craft since his teenage years.
Roasted plantain and savoury smoked meats, toasted cacao nibs. Robust, but balanced wood-smoke finish.
San Luis del Rio: Where Heat Meets Harmony
Tucked into a steep hillside along a deep river valley, the small village of San Luis del Rio in the Tlacolula district is a place of intense heat. This climate leads to early-ripening agave with densely concentrated sugars, resulting in a mezcal with a bold, fruity, and complex profile. San Luis del Rio is a true mezcal stronghold, almost exclusively producing Espadín. The tiny distilleries, scattered along the river, benefit from the shade of tropical fruit trees and a convenient water source. Above the tree line, rugged, high-elevation conditions are ideal for cultivating Espadín, with agave plantations dotting the mountainside as far as the eye can see. Here, Ivan and Paco Méndez proudly carry on the legacy of their late father, Don Rafael Méndez Cruz, a man whose contributions to his community, both as a family man and a passionate advocate for cultural preservation, were immense.
Sparkling grapefruit and citrus aromatics with wet stone. The palate has a rich and creamy mouthfeel, savoury butterscotch and herbs with a long and complex finish.
Lachiguí: High Altitudes, Profound Flavours
Hours from civilisation, nestled into the side of a steep ravine, lies the remote ranch settlement of Lachiguí home to the esteemed Vasquez family of mezcaleros. These humble complex houses extended family members, with the small village of El Palmar a challenging 30-minute drive along treacherous mountain dirt roads. At an astounding 7,414 feet elevation, Lachiguí boasts the highest palenque producing for Nuestra Soledad, towering over the others by more than 1,500 feet. Tio Pedro's agave fields, a grueling 500-foot climb up the mountain from the palenque, are a treasure trove of diverse agave varieties planted in rocky, limestone-rich soil. These extreme growing conditions yield mezcals of extraordinary complexity, exhibiting an elegance and nuance that perfectly complements their inherent strength. Pedro Vasquez is a true master, also producing some of the most prized expressions for the El Jolgorio brand, including Arroqueño, Tobalá, and Tepeztate.
Richly aromatic with notes of wet earth, fresh cherries, cedar wood and cigar box, peppery and green on the palate with bright, citrusy acidity and a long, dry earthy/woody finish.
San Baltazar Guelavila: Aromatic Valley Highlands
San Baltazar Guelavila, a small town on the eastern side of the Valles Centrales in the Tlacolula district, benefits from fertile, limestone soils in its valley highlands. For over a century, these lands have been ideal for cultivating Espadín alongside other vital crops. Don Gregorio Martinez cultivates his Espadín at 5,500 feet, surrounded by a vibrant tapestry of diverse agriculture, including tropical fruits and citrus. The abundance of these fruits and vegetables in the area contributes their naturally occurring yeasts to the wild fermentation process, imbuing this mezcal with its distinctive sparkling aromatics and rich flavour.
Sweet, ripe, tropical fruit, caramelised agave, Chinese five spice and wet stone on the nose. Mineral-rich, and round mouth-feel with an exceptionally long and complex wood-smoke and finish.
La Compañía Ejutla: Boldness Born from Struggle
La Compañía, a small village southwest of Oaxaca City in the Valles Centrales, is home to the La Soledad distillery, owned and operated by Gregorio Hernandez and his sons, Valentín and Joel. Situated on a hilly plateau at 5,000 feet above sea level, the steep slopes here favor hardy agaves. The inherent struggle of these plants to survive in such a harsh environment translates directly into the remarkable complexity of their mezcal. Don Gregorio employs a unique distillation method common in the Ejutla region: a single, extended distillation in a modified pot still featuring a cooling chamber called a refrescador. This distinctive technique contributes significantly to the mezcal's unique and bold flavour profile.
Bright and aromatically complex with white flowers, cilantro, and mint on the nose. Rich, savoury, and viscous on the palate with roasted chiles and minerality. The finish is long with a delicate kiss of wood smoke.
Santa María Zoquitlán: A River Valley's Embrace
Santa María Zoquitlán, a village of about 1,600 people, is nestled within a stunning landscape of rugged ridge lines and sweeping river basins, southeast of Santiago Matatlán. This small town is cradled by two converging river valleys and flanked by steep hillsides studded with rare agaves. While the dry season sees the vegetation blend into the rocky cliffs, after the rains, the region bursts into a verdant hue, thanks to the jade-green Zoquitlán River winding through the valley floor. This abundance makes the area rich for cultivating a wide variety of crops. Ignacio Parada, affectionately known as Don Chucho, along with his son José Parada Valera, sustainably harvest wild and semi-cultivated agaves from the rich, multi-coloured mountain soils directly behind their palenque. Don Chucho was the very first mezcalero to join the Casa Cortés collective of producers in 2007. Today, he proudly passes his craft to the next generation, working side-by-side with his son to produce exceptional mezcals for both Nuestra Soledad and El Jolgorio.
Lemon zest, red pepper, tropical fruit and smoked game greet the nose. Big, creamy, mouthfeel, with complex palate featuring honeysuckle and sandalwood. Exotic finish is long and nuanced with lychee, stone fruit, and savoury herbs.
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