Palenque Realminero

Why More Mezcal Is Being Sold as Destilado de Agave | Eater

"A multi-generational family palenque renowned for distilling in hand-built clay pot stills (olla de barro) that are often “glued” with mud and impart a notable mineral quality to the spirit. The family has produced agave distillates since the 1800s and opted to pursue formal certification in 2004 to legally sell and protect local jobs, building traceability into their production. After years of conflict with the primary certifying body over issues like the use of traditional regional names for agave varieties and perceived regulatory overreach, they denounced certification, arguing that the denomination of origin has constrained producers’ cultural expression. Despite abandoning formal certification, they maintain ancestral methods, documentation, and a commitment to preserving the character and tradition of their distillates." - Emma Janzen