Don Chingon "Sabe a Maguey" Rum

45% ABV

This is a fun one! "Don Chingon" roughly translates to "Mister Badass" and seemingly refers to Don Valentin Cortes, the master distiller. Don Valentin is a 5th generation Maestro Mezcalero. He and his son Asis run their palenque, Guardianes del Mezcal in Santiago Matatlan, Oaxaca, the "Mezcal Capital of the World". They previously worked with Mezcal El Jolgorio and Nuestra Soledad which are owned by family members of theirs. 

So you're probably thinking, "This is a rum. Why are we talking about Mezcal?" Excellent question. A bit of backstory is required here. Asis and Don Vale are true believers in the history, culture, and importance of Mezcal and agave cultivation. They are concerned about the sustainability of an industry that is growing rapidly that is centered around plants that take 6 to 20+ years to come to full maturity. They are uncomfortable with something as sacred as Mezcal being used in cocktails. So they decided to make a more sustainable product for cocktailing that had the spirit of Mezcal, but using a more sustainable and readily available raw material. So they made a Rum that has a bit of agave in it as well. 

This white rum is made from Piloncillo, a lightly processed, dark sugar that is produced in Oaxaca. It is an artisanal piloncillo spirit that is spontaneously fermented in pine tanks and double distilled in the same copper pots that they use to make mezcal. There is a small amount of roasted agave included in the mix as well. It is roasty and brown sugar sweet. It was designed as a Mezcal replacement in cocktails but we think it's just a really interesting, somewhat unusual, and super delicious Rum. Incredibly mixable for either spirit application.