Winter 2021 Updates

Jul 19

First, it’s with sadness that we must mention the loss of two great friends and partners, Don Lucio Morales López and his wife Agustina García López, who passed away earlier this year. The couple first met as school children, married soon after, and spent nearly 60 years together before dying just a few days apart. The Morales family and their espadín have been important to Mal Bien so far, and Lucio and Agustina's legacy will continue through their son Oscar, the longtime day-to-day head of the family business.

New Releases

GUERRERO

Papalote Joven, 48.3%, Antonio Sonido - Don Antonio’s borrego and espadín have been big hits so far. This marks the first time his papalote has come to the USA in black tape bottles.

Papalote Joven, 46.7%, Refugio Calzada - Sweet, rich papalote from one of the best to ever do it. Look for white chocolate up front and cinnamon in the back.

Papalote Joven, 46.8% Tomás Gutiérrez - Flavors of chiles and milk chocolate dominate Don Tomás’s papalotes, and this batch is no exception. A living legend for a

Zacatoro, 48.8% Javier Barranca - A local A. angustifolia varietal, zacatoro makes up a tiny fraction of the total production for mezcaleros in Chilapa de Álvarez, GRO. This batch totaled just 48 bottles. Only at K&L.

Mezcla de 5 Magueyes, 49.32%, Javier Barranca - In all our trips to Chilapa de Álvarez, GRO, there are only three types of agave that mezcaleros ever talk about: papalote, espadín, and zacatoro. It turns out there are others they don’t talk about. This batch includes the three familiar varietals, as well as two “desconocidos,” that are found so infrequently, mezcaleros haven’t bothered to name them. Only at Hi-Time Wine.

MICHOACÁN

Alto, 46%, Isidro Rodriguez - Summer is gone, but that doesn’t mean you have to say goodbye to the most crushable spirit we’ve ever tasted.

OAXACA

Arroqueño, 50.21% Ageo Cortes - Ageo’s arroqueño was in the first round of green tape releases back in Summer of 2019, and his talent for working with the varietal seems to have grown since then. That this batch has been resting in glass for two years hasn’t hurt it any either. Look for notes of white tea and honey.

Azulín 47.68%, Victor Ramos - Rare as can be. Not only have we never tasted pure azulín before this batch, but Victor has never made it. Cotton candy for days.

Tobaxiche, 48.47%, Emanuel Ramos - A new edition of a classic. Lots of minerality and forest-y green things. You can smell Miahuatlán as soon as you pull the cork.

Verde, 47.84%, Emanuel Ramos - More than any other expression, people ask when there will be another Verde from the Ramos family. Now is the answer. This batch has some of the “dank” green qualities you might remember, but it’s the aroma and flavor of freshly roasted agave that shine here.

Espadín, 45.65%, Felix Ramirez - Another round of aggressive, bright Ejutla style espadín from the remarkably consistent Don Felix.