De Matachines Peñasco

De Matachines Peñasco is distilled from Salmiana Crassispina agave in the highland village of Peñasco, San Luis Potosí, a production zone north of the traditional Oaxacan mezcal belt where agave spirits carry a different mineral signature. The batch run here yielded just 235 bottles at 47.9% ABV, each one a window into a near-extinct clay-pot distillation method known locally as "campanilla" style. Salmiana is the same species harvested for pulque across the central Mexican plateau, but when roasted and distilled it delivers a structured, almost savory profile uncommon in espadín or tobalá bottlings more familiar to Lincoln Park mezcal drinkers. The producer roasts the agave hearts in a traditional brick oven fueled by steam rather than direct flame, a gentler heat that preserves the agave's vegetal complexity without burying it in heavy char. After roasting, the piñas are crushed with a tahona wheel and fermented in tanks carved from pine wood, which lends a faint resinous note to the must before distillation. The final distillation happens in clay pot stills shaped like bells—campanillas—a method that requires hands-on heat management and produces smaller volumes than copper or stainless, but rewards patience with clarity and texture. De Matachines takes its name from the ceremonial religious dancers who have performed across Mexico since the 1600s, troupes that still exist in some villages today, and the brand's mission is to surface spirits from these small communities that might otherwise never leave the palenque. On the palate the Peñasco shows the savory minerality typical of Salmiana, layered with cinnamon warmth and a peppery spice that many tasters read as white pepper or dried chili. The finish lingers just long enough to register its herbal-mineral structure before fading cleanly, leaving behind a faint echo of pine resin and baked agave. It pairs well with grilled lamb, mole verde, or aged manchego—anything with fat and umami to anchor the spirit's leaner, more austere edges. Served neat at room temperature, the 47.9% proof feels integrated rather than hot, the hallmark of a careful distillation and patient fermentation in wood. Available for pickup at our Lincoln Park bottle shop at 1128 W Armitage Ave, local Chicago delivery, or nationwide shipping.