Creador Agave Spirits
ABOUT:
Creador is a small and passionate brand committed to the work and traditions of the palenqueros.
Creador’s mission is to perpetuate sustainable models of traditional agave spirits production, supporting mezcalero communities, and sharing their agave spirits with the world.
Humility, respect, collaboration, craft, and transparency are our principles.
Creador Agave Spirits seeks out independent family producers who have little to no representation outside of their local markets (which is often solely the village or surrounding villages where they live), producers who want to make a transition to full-time production of destilado and need help getting their agave spirits to market.
Creador strives to support palenqueros and their communities by offering autonomy and fair pricing to producers. Creador does not ask for contracts nor negotiate down price - what the palenqueros ask, Creador pays, and will advise if the spirits are underpriced. Creador shares revenue with the producers, and are transparent in regards to the complex economics of selling spirits into the tiered alcohol-distribution systems prevalent in the industry.
By sharing the stories of the palenqueros and their families Creador Agave Spirits seeks to provide a deeper connection between the creators and their customers. We do this through storytelling, creative collaborations, open conversations, and through reinforcing the importance of preserving tradition while guiding consumers to informed buying decisions, and of course also guiding them to delicious destilado de agave.
WEBSITE:
https://www.creadorspirits.com/
MEZCALS OFFERED:
Creador Agave Spirits (whose name translates to "creator") was born out of a passion for discovering unique, small-batch ancestral agave spirits from Mexico while telling the stories of the artisans who make them. Sourcing exceptional, unaltered destilados de 100% agave directly from maestro palenqueros (like José Alberto Pablo in San Bernardo Mixtepec, Oaxaca), Creador is dedicated to supporting the economies of producer communities and preserving centuries-old traditions. Their spirits are made "de la mano y el corazón" (from the hand and the heart), utilizing ancestral methods that include roasting in underground river-rock ovens, hand-mashing with wooden mallets in hollowed tree trunks, and fermenting and distilling entirely in clay pots.
Espadín Capón: Crafted from Agave Angustifolia, this spirit utilizes a traditional "capón" method where the agave’s central stalk (quiote) is cut before it can flower. The plant remains in the ground for an additional 9 to 12 months, trapping all its sugars and energy inside to produce a rich, highly distinct flavor profile. It offers a nose of cotton candy, hickory, plum, and cherry, with a soft, slightly sweet palate of wet clay and grilled asparagus, ending in a warm, lingering finish with a hint of smoke.
Lumbre: The signature agave spirit of maestro palenquero José Alberto, made from an agave (Agave angustifolia var.) endemic to San Bernardo Mixtepec that takes 8-10 years to mature. Milled by hand and distilled in clay, Lumbre opens with a nose of ripe apple, stone fruit, and baby's breath. The palate is delicate and leathery-sweet with notes of fruit and tobacco, leading to a long and deeply pleasant finish.
Ensamble con Cacao: A 50/50 blend of Lumbre and Espadín agaves that are cooked, milled, and fermented together. During the second distillation, locally roasted, hand-milled cacao powder is added directly into the clay pots. This creates a beautifully complex dessert-like spirit featuring aromas of caramel, mesquite, and subtle chocolate. The palate reveals plantain, dry chocolate, and vanilla, finishing with light, delicate notes of clay and cocoa spice.
Jabalí: Made from the wild Agave convallis, Jabalí is notoriously difficult to produce due to its low yield and intense foaming during fermentation and distillation. However, the labor-intensive process results in an incredibly rewarding spirit. It features a rich nose of candied yams, pumpkin, and butternut squash, followed by a soft, sweet, and savory palate of baking spices and cantaloupe, with a long, viscous sweet potato and cinnamon finish.