NETA - Rayo Mezcal by Primitivo Vasquez

NETA MEZCAL - Del Rayo | December 2023 | Primitivo Vásquez Vásquez | RYOPMV2312 | Fall 2024 release | 90 bottles | Prestige Ledroit

This is the first single-varietal production using the rare Agave americana var., known as Rayo, from Primitivo Vásquez. Rayo resembles other A. americana types, such as Arroqueño and Sierrudo, but differs in morphology. The flavor profile of cooked Rayo agave is uniquely distinct. Endemic to Logoche, this agave has nearly gone extinct over the last 50 years.

When Primitivo bought his land, there was one remaining Rayo agave, which he saved for propagation. The 17 piñas harvested for this batch were among the first ripened from crops planted in 2012, thanks to his propagation efforts. With assistance from his wife, Elvia, and son, John Brandon, the en guía agave was harvested and processed between November and December 2023, with wet fermentation running into the new year. While extended fermentation times may seem long, they allowed slow and stable conversion of sugars due to the cold season, resulting in low yields but remarkable flavors.

Distillation was done under low heat with careful composition of heads, hearts, and tails. The batch was rested in glass until bottling in September 2024, and exclusively selected by Prestige Ledroit in the Mid-Atlantic. Only 90 bottles of this unique mezcal exist.

• Maguey(es): Del Rayo (Agave americana var.)

• Provenance of the maguey: Homegrown

• Producer: Primitivo Vásquez Vásquez

• Region: Logoche, Miahuatlán

• Soil type: Rocky red tierra colorada pedregosa

• Rest time after harvest: Five days

• Oven: Conical earthen pit; nine days with oak and mesquite wood

• Rest time after oven: Sixteen days

• Maceration: Machete and mechanical shredder

• Fermentation: Native yeasts; 3000L food-grade plastic tank with 1500kg cooked maguey and 1000 liters well water

• Dry fermentation time: 22 days

• Wet fermentation time: 18 days

• Distillation: 2x in copper pot stills

• Final composition: Heads, hearts, and tails

• Batch size: 85 liters

• ABV: 45%

750ml