Puntas de Pulque Chino | Manuel García Aquino | January 2026 | PUNMAQ2601 | 68.4% ALC | 24 Bottles | Madre!
Given the important role that the puntas, or heads, play in the composition of a batch—along with the hearts and select cuts of tails—it is extremely rare for any additional quantity to remain available for bottling. If any puntas are left over, the lone liter or so is typically kept by the producer to enjoy on special occasions or to share with close friends and honored guests. When a more substantial quantity of heads or tails remains unused, it is usually redistilled with the mash of a future production of the same maguey.
Selected and bottled exclusively for Madre!, this special release of Pulque Chino Puntas was only made possible because of the unique circumstances surrounding the production of a much larger batch. During the final composition, Manuel found himself with an abundance of aromatic, high-proof heads but very little desirable low-proof spirit with which to build the batch.
The Valley of Miahuatlán is home to many different forms of Agave americana. While sparse wild populations still exist in certain areas, many of these types have been domesticated over hundreds—and in some cases thousands—of years. These cultivars have been selected for different characteristics, primarily for fiber production or the preparation of food and beverages. Among those used for food and drink, certain varieties were historically cultivated for the harvest of aguamiel and the production of pulque, giving rise to the colloquial names maguey pulquero and maguey de pulque. Others, including Arroqueño and Sierrudo (known locally as Mexicano), were cultivated specifically for spirit production.
According to producers in the region, three locally recognized forms of Pulque Chino exist. Although they share many characteristics, each displays distinct morphological features. Curiously, not all yield aguamiel, though all exhibit the distinctive undulating texture of the pencas for which the variety is known.
The exceptional full batch from Manuel Aquino was distilled at his palenque in Logoche in January 2026 with the help of his daughter, Flor. The agave was purchased from a magueyero in neighboring San Luis Amatlán, where Manuel harvested five massive piñas, each weighing approximately 200 kg, from a cultivated parcel of white, rocky tierra blanca. The sugar content of different Agave americana plants—particularly the Pulque types—varies considerably between forms and according to the terrain in which they are grown, but these particular magueyes yielded beyond expectation.
Upon completing the second distillation, Manuel found himself with an unusually large quantity of high-proof spirit and relatively little desirable low-proof liquid for the final composition. After adjusting with different cuts of heads, hearts, and tails, he settled on a final yield of 110 L with a cordón cerrado corresponding to 49.9% ABV. While the full batch has been bottled for our distribution partners in other states, these 24 bottles of Pulque Chino Puntas are available exclusively through our friends at Madre! Despite bottling at 68.4% ABV, this release remains remarkably approachable and drinks well below its proof.
Maguey(es): Pulque Chino (Agave americana var.)
Provenance of the maguey: Purchased from a magueyero in neighboring San Luis Amatlán
Producer: Manuel Aquino García
Region: Logoche, San Luis Amatlán, Miahuatlán
Soil type: White, rocky tierra blanca
Rest time after harvest: Six days
Oven: Conical earthen oven; roasted for nine days with mesquite wood
Rest time after roasting: Four days
Maceration: Machete and shredder
Fermentation: Native yeasts; food-grade plastic tub containing approximately 1,000 kg of cooked agave and 1,100 L of well water
Dry fermentation: 48 hours
Wet fermentation: Eight days
Distillation: Twice distilled in a copper pot still
Final composition: Select 20 L cut of puntas
Date of distillation: January 2026
ABV: 68.4%