Mijenta Tequila founder Juan Coronado joined forces with fifth generation Mezcalero, Juan Antonio Coronel, to present Tres Tribus, a trio of three single-agave varietal mezcals plus Ensamble, a rare blend of Espadín, Jabalí, and Salmiana agaves.
Distilled in the Mixteca region in the Oaxacan Mountains, these artisanal mezcals are made from wild foraged agave (not farmed), water sourced from the Tidaá volcano aquifer, and indigenous yeast. Let’s check them out.
Tres Tribus Espadín Capon
Vitals: 88 Proof (44% ABV); $141
Espadín Capon is distilled from magueys, or agave, between 8 and 12 years old. Unlike farmed agave, this plant is harvested after it’s allowed to flower, thus allowing the plant to reproduce to maintain sustainability in the region. Expect fruity and floral flavors of banana, mango, and prickly pear mixed with nutty almond.
Tres Tribus Tobalá
Vitals: 88 Proof (44% ABV); $95
Tobalá agave is known for its compact size and long growing period of up to 12 years, and this mezcal is a beautiful example of why its charms. Like all Tres Tribus expressions, the agave, or maguey, is traditionally cooked in an underground conical oven layered with volcanic stones and Encino oak. The result yields cooked pineapple, figs, quince, cacao, and jasmine.
Tres Tribus Cuishe
Vitals: 88 Proof (44% ABV); $95
To make Tres Tribus, the Espadín and Tobalá piñas are hand mashed with wooden mallets, but the Cuishe agave is so fibrous it requires a machine to pull the plant apart. Ranging in age from 10 to 25 years old, processed agave is distilled twice in a still built by Coronel from copper and local metals. Look for rosemary, vanilla, and cinnamon mixed with a creamy and tangy flavor, not unlike blue cheese.
Tres Tribus Ensamble
Vitals: 88 Proof (44% ABV); $70
Mezcalero Juan Antonio Coronel created Ensamble with mixologist in mind. What’s in the bottle is a blend of Espadín, Jabalí Silvestre, and Salmiana Silvestre, a rare maguey that ages up to 35 years. The result yields jasmine, mango, and honey flavors, earning the mezcal a 98-point rating from The International Wine & Spirit Competition.
Spirits writers, marketers and designers are among the most influential forces in the spirits industry. Their opinions, ideas and creative talents inform and influence consumer perceptions and buying decisions. The John Barleycorn Society was started by a group of spirits journalists seeking to honor excellence in all facets of the industry. The journalists spent several years creating a comprehensive competition that became the John Barleycorn Awards. An elite team of authoritative and influential spirits journalists was selected to administer the flagship component of the Awards, a blind tasting competition destined to become the preeminent arbitrator of spirits taste, quality and character.
