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Cuishe Mezcal From Wild Agave Karwinskii
by Greg Rutkowski
TLDR
In this article, we talk about Cuishe Mezcal, the history of this amazing spirit, and its distinctive agave. The artisanal production process gives you a hint on what to expect in the taste and aroma of the Mezcal. Its packaging will also tell you why Cuishe Mezcal has a lot of fans.
Introduction
If you have ever wanted to try out something unique with your friends or family, cuishe mezcal is the right bottle for you. This mezcal is very enjoyable and will blow your mind with just a single sip. If you love reading about agaves, then you've definitely come across Karwinskii. In this article, we will look at Cuishe, the world's gift from the agave world.
Let's dig right in.
Cuishe Mezcal History
Cuishe is a sub-variety of the wild agave karwinskii species that grow in different parts of Oaxaca, among others like Barril, Tobaziche, Largo, and Madrecuiche.
It is the most common among the other species, and it represents about 1% of the agaves currently growing in Oaxaca state. Cuishe mezcal gets its name from the term Zapotec, meaning ‘agave.’
More About Agave Karwinskii
It is also one of the most distinctly-shaped agaves. For other agaves, the pencas or leaves grow outward from the core or central heart that stays close to the ground. The case of agave karwiskii is different. The leaves remain spiky and green while they grow as long vertical trucks or stems, and the sugars are always concentrated at the top.
The agave grows to about 6-7 feet tall, and, in most cases, the agave karwinskii appears more like a palm and not an agave. Many indigenous communities in Mexico use the agaves as natural fences because of their intimidating spikes and height. The agave’s stalk has an unusual structure that contains a very firm piña material. The unique structure makes the agave very difficult for the team to work with and harvest.
Production Process of Cuishe Mezcal
Agave Cuishe takes about 12 to 18 years to mature before harvesting, and the entire process is artisanal. By using artisanal methods, the team ensures the mezcal style is very pure. As the process begins, the production team cooks the agave hearts in earthen pit ovens. They then crush and mash the agave hearts using a horse-driven tahona wheel to drain the juice.
The process does not involve the use of artificial yeast since it may interfere with the profile of the mezcal. And instead, the team uses open-air fermentation. The fermentation process takes 1 to 3 days because the agave varietal has low sugar concentration. Open-air fermentation enables the sugars to utilize naturally occurring yeast before the mezcal undergoes purification in the process of double distillation.
Due to this process, the resulting mezcal features tropical fruit aromas, a dry piney, and a mineral finish. Since the entire trunk undergoes fermentation, the resulting spirit has higher fibrous and vegetal aromatic and flavor profiles.
Tasting Notes
What’s unique with this mezcal is that it has a wild and unique taste and smell. If you are looking for something spicy and fruity to wrap up your evening, then you can try out Cuishe Mezcal. It is unique in taste, and every sip of the spirit manifests the artisanal production process.
It produces gassy, herbaceous, and dry mezcals with strong minerality, intense citrus, and a dry entry.
It has green vegetal, spicy, and pepper notes in the drinker’s mouth with a palate of tropical fruit and a dry and smoky finish.
The complex flavor profile also makes this mezcal very enjoyable.
Packaging of Cuishe Mezcal
The rustic ceramic bottles of Cuishe mezcal hint at the traditional ceramic terracotta that the Mexicans sometimes used to drink mezcal.
The bottles have earth tones, and the printed labels have production specifics, embossed logos, batch number stamps, and perforated holes. These elements signal the product’s tactile nature that appeals to both the beginners and the specialized spirit drinkers. This amazing packaging lures the drinkers to have a taste of the mezcal.
Why Choose Cuishe Mezcal
If you are looking for something spicy and fruity to wrap up your evening, then you can try out Cuishe Mezcal. It is unique in taste, and every sip of the spirit manifests the artisanal production process.
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