Claridad Bicuishe Capòn

48% ABV

From one of our favorite Maestro Mezcaleros, Onofre Ortiz from the village of Bramaderos in Miahuatlan, Oaxaca. He is a fifth generation distiller and agave farmer from Miahuatlan, an area of Oaxaca that is known for the incredible genetic diversity and sheer volume of agaves that grow there. 

Bicuishe is from the Karwinskii family of agaves which are sort of like dwarf palms in that they have a woody trunk with the piña growing at the top of it (rather than seeming to sprout right out of the ground like most other types of agaves). As is common in the region, Maestro Ortiz harvests his agave Capòn, which means that when the agave is fully mature and begins to sprout it's flowering stalk, he cuts the stalk and leaves the agave in the ground for a period of 6 months to 1 year. This castrates the plants, leaving it in an in between space where it's sugars remain in the piña, neither growing nor reproducing. This process allows the development of secondary flavors in the resulting distillates and is seen as a part of the ripening process to many farmers.

This is a richly flavorful and complex mezcal with mineral, vegetal, and ripe fruit notes and a very lengthy finish. It is rare to see a Bicuishe bottling of this quality, integrity, and provenance at such an affordable price. The founders of the brand were able to do so by not certifying the spirit with the Mexican government, and working with a company that both imports and distributes their Mezcal, removing some of the middle men that would normally add to the retail price. 

About Claridad:
Francisca D’Acosta and Ofer Levy, the founders of Mezcal Claridad (meaning “clarity”), strive to create the best possible alternative to the startup brands and fly-by-night operations currently flooding the mezcal scene (often called conejo or “rabbit” brands in Mexico due to their tendency to come and go quickly). It has become increasingly difficult to know which producers operate with integrity; vague claims of altruism abound while actual quality and community become harder and harder to find. For D’Acosta and Levy, this is the very problem that spurs them into action. Rather than remain frustrated or passive, they have made it their mission to operate with clear-eyed transparency while promoting respect and cooperation.

Francisca’s family history has been interwoven with mezcal for decades. Her father helped develop one of the world’s first artesanal mezcal labels, and Francisca’s aunts worked to support mezcalero families, both through non-profit work and through sourcing spirits directly as négociants. As a documentary filmmaker and photographer, Francisca has spent her career exploring the relationship between people and place—particularly in the mountains of Oaxaca—and the tensions between tradition and expansion, artistry and accessibility. Claridad aims to be a part of that work, collaborating with mezcaleros throughout Oaxaca to share exemplary mezcales while helping them maintain heritage methods and control of their craft.

Claridad’s initial releases come from Miahuatlán (in the southern valley and mountain range of Oaxaca), a region known for its historic diversity of agave and uniquely pronounced flavor profile. Mineral-rich red, white, and black soils, a deep and unique aquafer, long dry seasons, and extreme temperature swings combine to create conditions that elicit some of the most distinct and beloved mezcal in Oaxaca.

Maestro mezcalero Onofre Ortíz Ortíz, Claridad’s foundational producer, grew up as a generational agave farmer and distiller. His mezcales are delicate and intentional, reflecting his meticulous approach and the land he stewards. He cultivates an array of different varieties, including some rare subspecies and hybrids, that are grown with minimal intervention. Onofre favors capón-harvested agaves, which demand more time in the field but yield a richer, more layered spirit.