Alejandrina & Nicolas Hernandez have a palenque in the Rio Seco region of Zoquitlan, Oaxaca. 15-22 year old Tepeztate (Agave Marmorata) are roasted in an mesquite & guamuchil fired earthen oven for 5 days. The agaves were milled with machete and a mechanical mill prior to natural fermentation in cypress vats for 8 days. The mash is double distilled in copper alembic pots. The batch was 480 liters and was adjusted with Puntas, the higher proof, full flavored distillate that comes off of the still just after the heads.
Rezpiral is a spirits label, project and fair trade practice that brings beautiful selections of the highest quality traditional artisanal single-batch (non-certified) Mezcals into a handful of places in the USA. At the core of the project is the embrace of an ethos that aims to respect and support the multi-generational knowledge, independence, flavors, lands and ways of each mezcalero family with whom we work. The project upholds quality and value, working from batch to batch, bringing to market an eclectic selection of spirits, each complex and excellent.
Rezpiral’s small scale allows for the advocacy of diversity on different levels, from supporting the autonomy of producers & their continued production of single batch artisanal agave distillates to the preservation of local land control. These ethics seek to contribute to the countering of industrial standardization and cultural appropriation of this family & pueblo produced spirit and culture of excellence.
Ecologically, seeding and planting practice is key to sustainability, autonomy and sustenance, and its something independent artisans have been doing for years. Rezpiral actively supports master artisan’s in planting and managing agave. Rezpiral believes that the burden of planting and protecting varieties should not fall completely on the shoulders of the artisan campesino, but be shared by the consumer. Our nursery program promotes and practices this idea (see Vivero). Rezpiral also redirects 30% of it’s earnings back into supporting producer’s farming costs and practices (see 30%).
