This Don Mateo Pechuga is made by Delia Vargas Vieyra, the matriarch of the Vieyra family that’s regarded as one of the top distillers in all of Michoacan.
About this mezcal
Don Mateo Pechuga (Delia Vargas Vieyra) is an exclusive K&L Wines variation on the regular Don Mateo Pechuga that is more widely available. The Vieyra family is commonly regarded as one of Michoacán’s very best distillers. Delia Vargas Vieyra is the matriarch of this highly respected family.
Despite what the label says, this special batch of Pechuga is made with maguey Cupreata and maguey Cenizo. The agave were roasted over Pine and Oak with a tiny bit of Mesquite as a starter. They were crushed by hand and fermented naturally in oak vats before being distilled on two wooden stills, one made of Pine and the other from Oyamel (sacred fir). Within the still Delia suspended a mixture of Turkey, Venison, Rabbit, and Iguana. To balance these unusual flavors, she also added Tejacote (crab apple), stone fruits, clove, cinnamon, almonds and other flavors. The resulting mezcal produced just 395 liters and was rested for 6 months in glass before being bottled.
Don Mateo de la Sierra
Mezcal Don Mateo de la Sierra is run by maestro Emilio Vieyra. Don Mateo was Emilio’s grandfather. He migrated from Guanajuato to Michoacán in 1840, and began producing mezcal. Given that Don Emilio represents his family’s sixth generation of maestro vinatero, what better ambassador of the spirit of Michoacán. Coming from Michoacán gives their mezcals a very different character and taste from those made in Oaxaca or elsewhere in Mexico.
Learn more about Don Mateo de la Sierra in our blog post Emilio Vieyra and Mezcal Don Mateo de la Sierra
Or in the Family First Article on the K&L Wines Spirits Journal blog
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Tacos-tequila-mortgages
8 reviewsSweet agave, creamy delicious and that venison at the very end. I know there’s a few more animals in there but never having eaten iguana I can’t say if I’m tasting that or not. The venison and turkey are right there. Great bottle. Hope I can find another.
Zack Klamn
542 reviewsNose – I can detect the meat component but cannot dial in which it is. This is very well balanced with the fruitiness. A tad bit of bacon fat. The slightest scallion note.
Palate – Fresh lychee. Papaya. Medium viscosity. Same as the nose, the bouquet of meats are there, none of which overpower the other. I thought the Don Mateo regular pechuga was good but this batch is next level. Jonny hits the nail on the head here – this is agave forward. I love pechugas like this where the added distilled flavors support the agave element. Maestra Vieyra… fantastic job!
Nose – I can detect the meat component but cannot dial in which it is. This is very well balanced with the fruitiness. A tad bit of bacon fat. The slightest scallion note.
Palate – Fresh lychee. Papaya. Medium viscosity. Same as the nose, the bouquet of meats are there, none of which overpower the other. I thought the Don Mateo regular pechuga was good but this batch is next level. Jonny hits the nail on the head here – this is agave forward. I love pechugas like this where th
Jonny
736 reviewsLot 41. Bottle 186/504. Clean on the nose, maybe a bit of fruit but not much. This is very agave forward with lots of tropical fruit. Pineapple, cherries, and….not totally sure. This is a total dessert mezcal.. this taste like Tres leches mezcal.