Corte Vetusto Mezcal releases ultra-rare 'ancestral' expression

Corte Vetusto Mezcal has launched an ultra-rare 'ancestral' expression as part of its 'mesquite smoked' craft portfolio.

Only 80 bottles of the 100-per-cent agave spirit, produced in Oaxaca, have been released and will be sold exclusively through Harrods, in-store and online.

Crafted by fourth-generation 'maestro mezcalero' Isidro Damian, Corte Vetusto Ancestral is an unaged spirit made with Sierra Negro agave, a rare sub-species of agave americana which is sustainably grown and harvested on Damian's estate in Villa Sola de Vega.

It is produced using traditional methods, with the agave hearts hand-mashed in a wooden 'canoa' with wooden mallets and then left to naturally ferment in open-topped wooden vats.

As an ancestral mezcal, distillation occurs exclusively in woood-fired clay pots. It is distilled to proof, and the distiller says it contains notes of black pepper spice, green peppers, grapefruit and green mango with some wood smoke.

The Corte Vetusto Mezcal Ancestral is available through Harrods from mid November with an RRP of £250 per bottle.

27 November 2020 - Bethany Whymark