Salvadores Tamarindo y Chiles Mezcal

Salvadores Tamarindo y Chiles Mezcal is a flavored espadín expression from Oaxaca that infuses roasted agave distillate with tamarind and dried chiles, delivering a savory-sweet profile uncommon in the Lincoln Park mezcal category. The base spirit is double-distilled from eight-year-old Agave angustifolia in copper pot stills, then macerated with fruit and spice to build complexity without obscuring the vegetal backbone. This is not a liqueur—it remains dry, herbaceous, and structurally mezcal, with the botanicals acting as accent rather than mask. Salvadores Mezcal produces this expression in Oaxaca using traditional methods: earthen-pit roasting to coax smoke from the agave hearts, tahona crushing to extract juice, and wild fermentation before the copper-pot double distillation. The eight-year maturation of the espadín plants concentrates sugars and vegetal character, which the distillers preserve even after infusion. The result is a mezcal that tastes first of roasted agave and smoke, then unfolds into layers of tamarind acidity, dried-chile heat, and a persistent vegetal freshness that carries through the finish. On the nose, expect dried chiles and a subtle sweetness that doesn't tip into candy; the palate opens with roasted agave, then shifts to bright tamarind and a medium-intensity vegetal note that lingers long after the sip. The finish is dry and warming, with a light smokiness threading through the chile heat. Pair this with grilled lamb or pork tacos, mole negro, or sharp aged cheese—it cuts through fat and holds up to bold seasoning. It also works in a mezcal Margarita variation where you want spice and tang without adding syrups. Salvadores Tamarindo y Chiles Mezcal is available for pickup at Off Premise Chicago, 1128 W Armitage Ave in Lincoln Park, with local Chicago delivery and nationwide shipping.