Source: Espíritu Corsa

Upmarket mezcal brand Espíritu Corsa is launching a trio of drinks in the UK. 

The three mezcals – Espíritu Lauro (40% abv), Santa Pedrera (46%) and Buen Bicho (38%) – have rolled out into online retailer 31Dover.com and on-trade wholesaler On-Stock (rsp: £34.99-£54.99). 

Espíritu Lauro was “a complex and sophisticated mezcal blended from espadin and wild karwiniski agave”, said the brand, while Santa Pedrera was “a classic mezcal made from 100% espadin agave”. Buen Bicho, meanwhile, was “a softer, lighter and easily sippable spirit that is designed for those that are new to the mezcal category”.

The brand was founded by Juan Cordova, who bought the San Agustin Amatengo Palenque distillery in Oaxaca, Mexico, in 2010. The brand makes its spirits by cooking agave on river rocks in earth ovens dug into the ground before distilling it in copper stills, which produce runs of 19-20 bottles at a time. 

“Our aim is to celebrate the authenticity of Mexican-made mezcals across the world, producing world-class spirits and taking care of the whole process from start to finish to ensure traditions are respected, the finest natural ingredients are used and the final product is of the highest quality,” said Cordova.

Mezcal – and the wider agave spirits category – has been steadily gaining popularity in the UK over past years, making some inroads into mainstream retail. Waitrose, for instance, launched its first mezcal in November 2018.