Capón
Capón refers to a unique process when harvesting agave. The term refers to mezcal that is made from the agave “capado”. When agave plants reach maturity, they begin to grow a flowering stalk (quiote in Spanish). When fully grown, the stalk can be 20 feet tall and is topped by flowers which are full of offspring seeds. The plant outputs a large amount of energy to create the stalk and reproduce before dying. However, if the stalk is cut off (capón means “castrated” in Spanish), the energy will be redirected back into the agave heart (piña). Certain mezcaleros use the capón method to increase the yield of the agaves and enhance the flavor.
Learn more about Capón mezcal:
- The art of making Capón Mezcal on the Agavera blog
- Capón on Mezcalistas
Image via our friends at Erstwhile Mezcal
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