Del Maguey Mezcal with Ron Cooper

Ron Cooper, renowned artist and founder of Del Maguey Mezcal visited Australia recently and hosted trade tasting sessions in various states.

Founded in 1995, Del Maguey Mezcal is a Single Village artisanal Mezcal that is 100% certified organic and produced using original handcrafted methods. Del Maguey means “from the plant” and Ron Cooper’s connection with the Zapotec Mexican Indians is almost spiritual. He refers to the ritual use of Mezcal among the community in remote villages and his work with the indigenous craftspeople.

“You don’t find Mezcal. Mezcal finds you.”

L-R: John Gakuru, Reece Griffiths, Ron Cooper, Phil Bayley

Cooper explained the production process and led the tasting of all eight expressions starting with the Chichicapa, Santa Catarina Minas, Santo Domingo Albarradas, San Luis del Rio, Crema de Mezcal, the renowned Vida, Tobala made from wild maguey (agave) and the coveted Pechuga with has a chicken breast suspended in the in the atmosphere of the still during production.

Del Maguey Vida and tasting clay cups

Del Maguey Mezcal is easily recognisable by the distinctive dark green bottles and the colourful labels which are the work of the late artist, Ken Price.

The tasting session was interspersed with entertaining anecdotes and connections with the artisians behind the spirit, with tasting madefrom traditional clay sipping copitas with the traditional “Stigibeau”, the Native American Zapotec word used when toasting Mezcal.

“Stigibeau!”

The Del Maguey Mezcal session with Ron Cooper was part of the Sydney Agave Cartel and was held on Wednesday 17 April 2013 at Café Pacifico.