Mexicano 375mL – Fortunato Hernández

Some villages don't just make mezcal. They define what mezcal can be.

San Baltazar Chichicapam, a small Zapotec town in Oaxaca's Valles Centrales, is one of the most celebrated mezcal-producing communities in the world — the source behind some of the category's most iconic bottlings. Here, mezcaleros aren't just producers; they're pillars of the community, often serving as an informal safety net for neighbors in times of need. Maestro Fortunato Hernández is one of them — a respected distiller whose reputation in Chichicapam extends well beyond his palenque.

Agave Mexicano: The Classic Wild Varietal

This expression is made from Agave Mexicano (Agave rhodacantha), a wild agave prized across Oaxaca for the balance it strikes between the boldness of wild varietals and the approachability of more cultivated ones. Fortunato roasts the piñas in a traditional earthen pit oven, ferments the mash naturally, and double-distills it in a copper pot still — the same time-honored process passed down through generations in Chichicapam.

What to Expect in the Glass

Expect a mezcal that balances smoke and sweetness with real finesse — roasted agave and gentle smoke on the nose, opening into notes of citrus, herbs, and a warm, lingering sweetness on the palate. It's an approachable, well-rounded mezcal that still carries real depth — a hallmark of Chichicapam's reputation for quality.

Why This Bottle Matters

Chichicapam has quietly shaped the modern mezcal category more than almost any other village its size — and every bottle from a maestro like Fortunato is a direct link to that legacy. This is mezcal from the source, not an imitation of it.

A great everyday sipping mezcal — balanced enough for a newcomer, complex enough for a longtime fan.