Lagrimas de Dolores Mezcal
The state of Durango, in north-central Mexico, is home to an amazing diversity of indigenous agave species and varietals – second only to Oaxaca in the south. Germán Gutierrez and his family-owned mezcal brand, Lágrimas de Dolores, is making it their mission to produce and showcase this biodiversity and flavour in both their own mezcals and by offering support to other mezcal producers who are growing agave in the more remote and inaccessible parts of Durango.
The Gutierrez family produces their mezcals at their own historic Hacienda Dolores in Durango City, dating from the 17th Century, and their agaves come from the hills of their own Rancho La Campana de Santa Elena in Mezquital. They roast using traditional underground volcanic rock fire-pit roasting methods, ferment in pine vats using only wild yeast from the air, and distill using copper and stainless steel pot stills. And their bottle and leatherwork pays homage to the long equestrian culture and traditions of Durango.
They have planted over 200,000 maguey Cenizos (Agave duranguensis) on their ranch, and continue to plant up to 50,000 more agaves every year, including the other wild species that are used in their family’s and other producers’ mezcals as part of an ongoing commitment to sustainable operations and preservation of the more than 30 species of agave that exist in the State of Durango.
Lagrimas de Dolores Mezcal Joven
SKU: BC 173141 / AB 812191
Case configuration: 6x750mL
100% Agave Cenizo (Agave duranguensis), 47% ABV.
Cenizo is one of the most fibrous agave varietals that can take between 9-13 years to mature. Cenizo grows between 1700m and 2200m above sea level and can survive temperatures between -15ºC to 45ºC; not to mention droughts, rain, snow, and predation. Despite all this hardship, our cenizo creates a beautifully sweet, fruity, and delectably creamy mezcal with notes of barbecued beef brisket and campfire, with a finish leaning toward earthy herbaceousness.
Lagrimas de Dolores Mezcal Añejo
SKU: 812192
Case configuration: 6x750mL
100% Agave Cenizo (Agave duranguensis), 40.5% ABV.
A special project of Germán’s father initially intended to share with friends, this beautiful and rich mezcal starts with our Cenizo Joven and ages it for 12-18 months in new charred American oak barrels. Rich layers of butterscotch and caramel overlay the light smoke and hints of vanilla, with a lovely agave warmth lingering at the back of the palate long after the final sip.
Lagrimas de Dolores Mezcal Castilla
SKU: BC 179518 / AB 812193
Case configuration: 6x750mL
100% Agave Castilla (Agave angustifolia), 47% ABV.
This maguey has been cultivated in the Southern parts of Mezquital municipio, a mainly indigenous community of Tepehuanes and Huicholes in Huazamota. It takes around 6 years to reach maturity at sizes of up to 2.5 metres and can be found in lower elevation areas in Durango. Although it comes from the same family as Oaxaca’s “Espadín” this agave differs greatly in appearance and taste. The distillation methods are similar to those used in the fascinating description of Cenizo Colonial Temoaya.
This particular batch was personally chosen for export to Canada at a small vinata (distillery) in southern Mezquital by our founder Eric Lorenz. His notes: “Delightfully herbaceous and earthy with a candy-like sweetness. Lightly grassy with a pronounced ‘zing’ at the end that lingers nicely, and finally light smoke that elegantly emerges only after swallowing the last drop.”
Lagrimas de Dolores Mezcal Masparillo
SKU: BC 179513 / AB 812194
Case configuration: 6x750mL
100% Agave Masparillo (Agave maximiliana), 47% ABV.
Maguey Masparillo is a rare, wild form of Agave maximiliana. It is one of the rarer breeds of agave, and due to its scarcity Masparillo mezcal is difficult to produce. After roasting over volcanic stones in an underground fire-pit by the de la Cruz and Flores families in San Miguel Temoaya, the cooked agave hearts are crushed by hand using machetes – no tahonas or horses! – fermented in open pine vats, and then double-distilled in a conical wooden still. This “alembique viejo” is the traditional method in Durango, essentially a (slightly!) modernized version of the older indigenous tree-trunk stills used long ago in the area by Huicholes and other indigenous groups in Durango (see Cenizo Colonial Temoaya).
Lagrimas de Dolores Mezcal I'GOK
SKU: BC 179510 / AB 812195
Case configuration: 6x750mL
100% Agave I’GOK (Agave americana), 47% ABV.
Long cultivated by the Tepehuan and Huichol peoples of southern Mezquital, I’GOK is the same species as Oaxaca’s Arruqueño, growing to similar heights of 2 metres and up...but again with a drastically different flavour profile. Notes of caramelized butter, light smoke, sweetness that stretches all the way into the back of the sinuses, and a woodiness not reminiscent of aging but rather of cooked agaves. Very complex!
Lagrimas de Dolores Mezcal Tepemete
SKU: BC 179505 / AB 812196
Case configuration: 6x750mL
100% Agave Tepemete(Agave angustifolia), 47% ABV.
Maguey Tepemete is a form of Agave angustifolia and among the rarest of agaves in Durango (we only received three cases in our first order!); it is a small agave that grows in the low areas of South Mezquital, weighing an average of 10kg. Due to its size and scarcity, it is difficult to produce, making it one of the rarest mezcales in Mexico. The agave is cooked in an underground oven with mesquite wood and river stones, then is crushed by hand using a machete. It ferments in open-air pine tanks, and is distilled in the traditional wooden “alambique viejo” of indigenous communities of southern Mezquital. Unbelievably unique, complex, and rare.
Available at these British Columbia (BC), Yukon (YT), Northwest Territories (NWT), Nunavut (NVT), Alberta (AB/Alta), Saskatchewan (SK/Sask), Manitoba (MB), Ontario (Ont), Quebec (QC/Que), Nova Scotia (NS), New Brunswick (NB), Newfoundland and Labrador (NL), and Prince Edward Island (PE/PEI) locations in Canada
Alberta Product Availability at Liquor Connect
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