Tepanal Ancestral Arroqueño 750ML - Rafael "Rafa" Garcia Aragon is a first-generation master distiller who has devoted his career to creating authentic mezcal.
His family brand, Tepanal, takes its name from the Nahuatl word "Tepanaltepec," meaning "hill of honeycombs." This was the historical name for Santa Maria Sola from the 16th century during the Spanish conquest until 1915. The brand is a tribute to the community's heritage and tradition of extracting honey, which was an important activity for the residents of Tepanaltepec.
Agave: Arroqueño (A. americana sub. sp.)
Master distiller: Rafael García Aragon
Village: Santa María Sola de Vega, Oaxaca
Roasting: three days in a conical underground oven
Mill: wood chipper
Fermentation: 5 - 7 days in canoes made from Montezuma Cypress wood
Yeast: naturally present in the air, ground, water, and fermenting canoe’s wood
Water: natural spring
Distillation: double distillations using clay pots and slow-cooking fire
Distillation date: month of September 2021
Lot: AR21001
Liters: 99
Bottles: 132
ABV: 50%