Cinco Sentidos La colección Mixteca Edition 4--Azul y Papalome

Cinco Sentidos La colección Mixteca Edition 4 is an ensamble mezcal that unites cultivated agave Azul (Agave tequilana Weber) with wild agave Papalome (Agave potatorum), distilled by maestro mezcalero Delfino Tobón Mejía in San Pablo Ameyaltepec, Puebla. This is classic ensamble architecture—the refined, slightly vegetal character of Azul tempered by the intense, floral-mineral punch of wild Papalome. The batch was distilled in February 2023 and bottled in June 2024, yielding just 213 liters. Cinco Sentidos built its reputation in Chicago and beyond on single-village, single-mezcalero releases, and this Mixteca Edition 4 follows that template precisely. Delfino Tobón Mejía works in San Pablo Ameyaltepec, a village in the Mixteca Baja region of Puebla where agave spirits production predates the modern mezcal designation. He roasted both agave species together in a brick-lined underground oven fueled by mesquite and tlahuicole wood for three days, then milled the cooked piñas with a mechanical shredder. Fermentation began dry for approximately two days before Delfino added spring water, extending the total fermentation time to ten days. The mash was distilled once in a hybrid three-plate copper alembic still, a design that allows for greater control over congeners and proof. Delfino proofed the final spirit with a blend of heads, hearts, and holanda—the low-proof second distillation typical of some Puebla mezcaleros—to achieve balance without water dilution. The nose opens with green-banana sweetness from the Azul, layered over the herbaceous, almost minty intensity of Papalome. On the palate, expect citrus peel, white pepper, and a faint smokiness that never overwhelms the agave. The single-distillation method leaves more texture and weight than typical double-distilled mezcal, so the mouthfeel is oily and coating. This is an excellent match for ceviche, grilled fish with salsa verde, or a simple plate of Oaxacan string cheese and memelas. It also works in a mezcal old-fashioned where you want the agave to remain the center of attention rather than dissolve into the sweetener and bitters. Cinco Sentidos La colección Mixteca Edition 4 is available for pickup at Off Premise Chicago, 1128 W Armitage Ave in Lincoln Park, with local Chicago delivery and nationwide shipping.