Mezcal Cómplice

 
 

ABOUT:

Mezcal Cómplice is a premium, artisanal brand built on the philosophy that mezcal is the ultimate "accomplice" in life's adventures, loves, and shared stories. Founded by Julio Fernández—who grew up deeply immersed in Oaxacan culture—the brand is dedicated to honoring the ancestral wisdom of the Maestro Mezcalero. Produced primarily in regions like San Dionisio Ocotepec and Santa María Albarradas in Oaxaca, Cómplice adheres strictly to time-honored traditional methods: agaves are slow-roasted in river-stone pit ovens, crushed by a horse-drawn tahona, fermented naturally in oak wood vats, and double-distilled in copper alembic stills. To emphasize their philosophy of togetherness, the brand creatively names each of its expressions after a different type of emotional "complicity."

MEZCALS OFFERED:

  • Cómplice de Aventura (Espadín Joven): The brand's foundational, unaged expression crafted from 8 to 10-year-old cultivated Agave espadín. Translating to "Accomplice of Adventure," this crystal-clear mezcal presents a vibrant herbal and mineral bouquet. On the palate, it delivers intense, bright notes of citrus and fresh fruit, balanced by a short, pure, and very measured wisp of traditional smoke on the finish.

  • Cómplice de Amor (Espadín Reposado): Meaning "Accomplice of Love," this beautifully refined expression takes their signature Espadín base and rests it for six months in medium-toasted American white oak barrels. This careful aging yields a distinctly sweet and comforting profile. It rewards the drinker with a soft, velvety texture and rich, layered notes of warm vanilla, brown sugar, caramel, candied apple, and toasted wood.

  • Cómplice de Vida (Espadín Añejo): The "Accomplice of Life" is a deeply mature, highly luxurious expression designed for slow sipping. Aged for an extended period in toasted American oak, this dark, rich spirit behaves much like a fine whiskey or cognac. It perfectly balances the natural citrus and fruit of the roasted agave with deeply concentrated, decadent notes of dark semi-bitter chocolate, heavy oak, and warm spices.

  • Cómplice Orígenes: Designed as an approachable starting point or a highly versatile mixing mezcal, the Orígenes line often features traditional lower-proof Espadín expressions and expertly balanced ensambles (blends)—such as an Espadín and wild Cuishe mix—that deliver a subtle, highly floral, and fruit-forward introductory experience.

  • Cómplice de Pasión (Wild Agave Collection): Translating to "Accomplice of Passion," this is the brand's ultra-premium line dedicated exclusively to rare, wild agaves. Because these wild varietals take decades to mature and are notoriously difficult to harvest, these expressions are highly limited:

    • Tobalá: Distilled from the prized, high-altitude rosette agave, offering a remarkably complex, sweet profile bursting with floral notes, citrus, and fresh fruit.

    • Tepeztate: Crafted from massive agaves that grow up to 35 years. It delivers a wildly intense, earthy palate packed with sweet florals, wild herbs, and raw roots.

    • Cuishe: A highly structured, mineral-driven expression highlighting the dry, stalk-like Agave karwinskii family.

    • Jabalí: An incredibly rare, notoriously difficult agave to distill that yields a wildly complex, exotic flavor profile.

    • Pasión Ensambles: Masterful field blends (such as a rare combination of Tepeztate, Jabalí, and Tobalá) that weave sweet, fruity, and spicy notes into a deeply earthy, harmonious finish.

Brand, MexicoClarence Mailwas