La Pulga Makes the Jump From Tequila to Mezcal With Folk Art-Inspired ‘Green Giant’ Agave Expression
(Photo: La Pulga)
Texas-based La Pulga Spirits is expanding beyond additive-free tequila with the release of an Agave Salmiana mezcal. Many enthusiasts know the varietal better by its unofficial name the “green giant,” a moniker that references its towering eight- to ten-foot height and 25-year maturation period.
Compared to typical mezcal offerings, the agave strain is often noted for its grassy, terroir-forward flavor (as well as its notoriously difficult farming process).
La Pulga traveled to San Luís Potosí, Mexico — a region renowned for its historied salmiana mezcal production — to bring the bottling to life. Roasted in traditional ovens before being crushed with an ancestral stone tahona, the expression is said to balance flavors and aromas of green chili, citrus and olives. Sarah Castillo, one of La Pulga’s founders, says that the mezcal acts as a decidedly non-smoky alternative to the competition.
“Our mission – and our passion – at La Pulga is to handcraft the very best, most unique spirits of their kind. That’s what we did with our La Pulga tequilas, and now with our extraordinary new mezcal, Castillo said. “Unlike mezcals produced in Oaxaca, typically from the Espadín variety of agave, La Pulga Mezcal is distilled from Salmiana Agave which creates a complex, yet very approachable taste profile not typically found in mezcal. This is not your usual smoky mezcal!”
La Pulga Mezcal is reportedly the first in a series of “Alebrijes” bottlings that will pay tribute to the eponymous folk art sculptures popularized in Oaxaca and Mexico City. On the front of each bottle, you’ll find a white coyote surrounded by blooming agave, a nod to the natural habitats of San Luís Potosí.
The brand was founded in 2020 by Fort Worth natives Sarah Castillo, Stephen Slaughter and Andrew De La Torre. Best known for its award-winning trio of additive-free tequilas, La Pulga has since announced plans to expand into mezcal and sotol — the latter of which may possibly be a future release in the “Alebrijes” series.
If you’d like to check out La Pulga Mezcal Artesanal, find it online at $64.99.
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