Los Danzantes

Los Danzantes (The Dancers) is a brand of [ingredient=mezcal mezcal] made by the Los Danzantes group and imported by the [ingredient=del-maguey Del Maguey] company. It is made from 100% Espadin agave, roasted in underground pits over mesquite coals, then crushed by horse-drawn stone wheels and naturally fermented in open top wooden vats. before being distilled twice in a copper pot still. 

Los Danzantes makes a Joven tequila from Espadin and one from Tobala, a Reposado, an Añejo and a Pechuga.

Joven Espadin is unaged. The roasting of the piñas is done underground with a mesquite wood fire providing the heat. It is clear, with aromas and flavors of green herbs and citrus fruit, with a subtle sweetness in the midpalate before the mesquite smoke flavors kick in on the finish. It is bottled at 84 proof.

Joven Tobala is from a subspecies of agave is almost always found growing wild, and produces mezcal that tastes of mango and cinnamon, with a rich, oily texture. It is bottled at 92 proof.

Reposado is aged for 11 months in new French oak barrels from the Nevers and Limousin forests. The mesquite smoke from the roasting of the piñas and the French oak work together to give buttery-spicy aromas and flavors that overlay the more typical tropical fruit aromas. It is bottled at 84 proof.

Añejo is aged for 16 months in new French oak barrels from the Nevers and Limousin forests. Here, the extended aging leads to notes of vanilla and coconut, but also Brazil nut and coffeed flavors. It is bottled at 90.4 proof.

Pechuga is, well, interesting. Classical music is played during fermentation so that it goes smoothly. There are three distillations here. Two are as usual, in a copper pot still. For the third, fruits and spices are added to the spirit, and a raw chicken is hung in the distillate stream. This mezcal is then colored bright red with cochineal. It is bottled at 92 proof. 

Los Danzantes Website