Xicaru Mezcal Artesanal Reposado Espadin 750ml

Xicaru takes its name from the Zapotec word for beautiful, and the brand belongs to mezcalero Fernando Santibañez, who produces it in small batches at his palenque in Santiago Matatlán, in the Valles Centrales of Oaxaca, following his grandmother's recipe. The Reposado is built on 100 percent maguey Espadín harvested at roughly eight years of maturity, and every stage is the traditional one. The piñas are roasted in an underground conical stone oven fired with mesquite and ocote, woods native to Oaxaca, which is where the smoke comes from rather than from any added flavoring. The cooked agave is crushed under a horse drawn tahona, fermented naturally in open pine vats using ambient yeast, and double distilled in small copper alembics. What separates this bottling from the Silver is what happens next. The mezcal rests for a period of months in medium toasted oak barrels, reported by the producer as American oak for roughly two to four months. That is a light touch by design. The wood is not there to rebuild the spirit into something else, only to round it: it pulls the raw smoke back a step, adds a soft vanilla and butterscotch sweetness, and gives the liquid its pale straw color. The result sits in an unusual and useful middle ground. It is noticeably gentler than a joven Espadín, smooth enough that people who normally find mezcal too aggressive can drink it neat, while still carrying real campfire character underneath. That makes it a genuinely versatile bottle: good on the rocks, good as an approachable introduction for a guest who is new to the category, and good in a smoky Old Fashioned or a mezcal Negroni where the oak gives the drink something to hold onto.

ABV / Proof

Tasting Notes

Color: Pale straw gold, drawn entirely from time in barrel rather than added color.

Nose: Gently sweet and lightly smoky, with roasted agave, toasted oak and a warm dusting of baking spice.

Palate: Soft and mild bodied, opening on vanilla and butterscotch with a sweet cream note, then cooked agave and a mild peppery lift. The smoke sits underneath rather than in front.

Finish: Smooth and understated, with restrained smoke, lingering oak sweetness and very little burn.

FAQ

What proof is Xicaru Reposado Mezcal? It is bottled at 80 proof, or 40 percent alcohol by volume.

How long is it aged? It rests for a period of months in medium toasted oak barrels, reported by the producer as roughly two to four months in American oak. That is what gives it its pale gold color.

How is it different from Xicaru Silver? Same maguey and same production method, but the Silver goes straight to bottle unaged and stays clear and smokier, while the Reposado spends time in barrel and comes out softer, sweeter and rounder.

Is Xicaru Reposado very smoky? Less than most mezcal. The smoke is real and comes from roasting the agave over mesquite and ocote, but the barrel time softens it, which makes this a common recommendation for anyone easing into the category.

What does artesanal mean on the label? It is a regulated production classification permitting stone oven cooking, tahona or manual milling, and copper or clay distillation. It sits between the industrial mezcal category and the stricter ancestral classification.

Where can I buy Xicaru Reposado Mezcal online? Available here at Liquor On Broadway while stock lasts, with fast insured shipping nationwide.