ROSALUNA MEZCAL-THREE BOTTLES-WHITE BACKGROUND

Rosaluna is distilled by a sixth-generation family producer in the hills of Santiago Matatlán, Oaxaca

Spirit Cartel has brought Rosaluna – an award-winning mezcal that prides itself on its less smokey flavour profile – to the UK.

The single-estate, unaged agave spirit (rsp: £39.95/70cl) is available from specialist retailers including Amathus, Drinks Club, Dunns, Hammonds, Speciality Drinks and Venus.

The organic, non-GMO and free-from added sugar tipple offered “a delicate hint of agave smoke, finishing with a subtle layer of sweet fruit and baking spice”, said Spirit Cartel.

Sustainability is a key selling point of the spirit. Waste agave from its distillation is used as fertiliser, while fibre from the plants is used to create its labels. The bottles are also made from 40% recycled glass.

As it contained “none of the overpowering smokiness of some mezcals”, Rosaluna was perfect for making cocktails such as margaritas, Spirit Cartel said.

The spirit was awarded the ‘World’s Best Margarita’ award by the US-based Beverage Testing Institute in 2024, beating dozens of tequilas to the accolade.

“Rosaluna’s less smoky profile results in a mezcal with excellent mixability and versatility across a wide range of recipes,” said Spirit Cartel general manager David Hood. “Mezcal’s on the rise in the UK, but the markets getting crowded with ‘samey’ liquids, so we’re confident of success for this subtly different and planet-friendly mezcal.”

Despite growing interest in the on-trade and among leading mixologists, mezcal remains relatively niche in the UK. Last month, M&S debuted a mezcal margarita RTD, while Waitrose stocks Casamigos Mezcal in some stores, but the spirit is yet to take off in mainstream retail.

Earlier this year, the then-boss of Pernod Ricard’s House of Tequila Michael Merolli admitted consumer awareness of mezcal needed to improve to convince the mults of its potential.

Asked when shoppers could expect to see Pernod Ricard’s Del Maguey mezcal on supermarket shelves in the UK, Merolli said: “It’s too early at this stage, and I think we have to make that happen at the right time. If you go too early, you don’t sell, and [start to] gather dust on the shelf. You don’t have two opportunities to make a good first impression.

“We have to do things right, starting with the on-trade and some very specific liquor stores before going to classic retail. But that doesn’t mean there is no potential, and it will happen one day, for sure.”