Black Tape Guerrero Bottles Are Here

We’re excited to announce that the first Mal Bien black tape bottles are finally here. The short version of the story is that we’re working with four legendary producers in Chilapa de Alvarez, Guerrero: Ciro Barranca, Refugio Calzada, Tomás Gutiérrez, and Antonio Sonido.

These are some of the best agave spirits we’ve ever tasted, and we’re thrilled to be the first to bring their stuff to the USA (not in a suitcase).

The longer story is that because of the horrifying security situation in the state of Guerrero, mezcaleros there have gotten nowhere near the exposure that their counterparts in safer, business and tourist-friendly places like Oaxaca have received. When we first visited Chilapa de Alvarez last summer, the mezcaleros told us we were the first people not from the town to visit them in over 6 years.

When one of the maestros needed money to cover his medical expenses (the youngest of the four is 67 years old), he was unable to raise the money from any of his past customers. The story reached us and wanting to help, we bought two small batches without waiting to taste them.

Since then, we’ve made a couple of trips to Guerrero, taking all the standard COVID precautions, as well as a few more extreme security measures to smuggle ourselves in and out of the communities and avoid attention from the local cartel. The trips have yielded a wealth of knowledge about the culture, plants, and techniques of the place, as well as a dozen or so batches of world-class spirits.

The goal for the Guerrero maestros is not just to earn a living, but to use their names and reputations to pave the way for their sons and grandsons to continue their traditions. You can read more about the next generation of Guerrero producers on mezcalmalbien.com/mezcales