Sazerac has collaborated with a group of 10 Mezcaleros (mezcal masters) in Mexico’s Valles Centrales de Oaxaca to produce the Los Vecinos del Campos brand.
Los Vecinos del Campos translates as ‘neighbours of the field’, and is the perfect name for this collective approach to producing mezcal. Some of the families involved in the creation of Los Vecinos have been distilling mezcal for generations.
Produced in partnership with Casa San Matias, a distillery with a history of inclusivity, Los Vecinos provides a high quality product, while supporting local farmers, honouring tradition and furthering sustainability.
The Los Vecinos vision is to bring together communities through traditionally produced mezcals that elevates the category as a whole.
Artesenal mezcal is more than just a buzzword too, with the category a certified term that requires more traditional production than the standard, including oven roasting, wood fermenters and direct fire stills.
The mezcal is made with locally grown, hand-harvested agave, the hearts of which are roasted for between four and seven days in traditional underground pits. These agave are crushed using large stone millstones, and naturally fermented in wooden vats, before being double distilled in copper pot stills.
The Los Vecinos range currently consists of: Los Vecinos Espadin, a 100 per cent Espadin Agave mezcal; Los Vecinos Ensamble No. 1, an unaged blend of 90 per cent Espadin, five per cent Barril and five per cent Madrecuixe agave; and Los Vecinos Tobala, a mezcal made with 100 per cent Tobala agave – offering a rich and earthy alternative.
Los Vecinos Espadin mixes perfectly with Fever-Tree Pink Grapefruit Soda for an easy Paloma style drink or with Fever-Tree Lime & Yuzu Soda for a Skinny Margarita style drink. The Ensemble and Tobala expressions are best drunk neat, to sip and savour.
With super-premium brands leading the growth charge for mezcal, and drinkers looking for authentic experiences, Los Vecinos is the perfect offering for retailers and bar managers alike.