Penca larga, Jabalín, Mexicanito | April 2022 | Heriberto García Sánchez | ENNHGS2204 | Winter 2023 release | 222 bottles
This extremely unique batch was crafted by Heriberto García, son of don Cándido, in the hot and dry month of April 2022 with maguey from the region of Santa Lucía, located in the sierra of Miahuatlán. Created with nearly equal percentages in weight, this field blend contains two distinct species of wild agave, and well as another member of the Asparagaceae family, the Furcraea guerrerensis, known locally as Penca Larga. This maguey is not an agave, but has served many of the same functions historically, as a source for fiber and food in many parts of the Americas. Much like Jabalín, these Penca Larga plants are low-yielding and high in saponins, which create a tremendous amount of foam during the fermentation process. To counter this effect, Heriberto added 1000 kg of the sugar-rich Mexicanito, a small A. rhodacantha type to the mix, enabling him to fill his fermentation vats without fear they would overflow. After ten days, distillation was carefully conducted with low heat. With a careful mix of heads, hearts, and a select cut of high proof tails, Heriberto composed a total of 171 liters. While the crafting ensambles is extremely common and traditional to the region of Miahuatlán, this batch is unique in its composition of magueys and robust flavors and aromas
§ Maguey(es): Ensamble Penca Larga (Furcraea guerrerensis), Jabalín (A. convallis var.), Mexicanito (A. rhodacantha var.)
§ Provenance of the maguey: Wild harvest from magueyeros in the sierra of Santa Lucía, Miahuatlán
§ Producer: Heriberto García Sanchez
§ Region: Logoche, Miahuatlán
§ Soil type: red earth (tierra colorada)
§ Rest time after harvest: six days
§ Oven: Conical earthen pit; eight days with mesquite wood
§ Rest time after oven: eight days
§ Maceration: Machete and shredder
§ Fermentation: Native yeasts, three 1200L capacity Montezuma cypress sabino wood vats
§ Dry fermentation time: 48 hours
§ Wet fermentation time: eight days
§ Distillation: 2x in copper pot stills
§ Final composition: Heads, hearts, and tails
§ Batch size: 171L
§ Date of distillation: April 2022
§ ABV: 48.7%