Sierra Negra Ancestral – Puntiagudo Spirits

RL-SRN-09: A True Expression of the Highlands of Oaxaca – Sierra Negra Ancestral

Rooted in the highlands of Santa Catarina Albarradas in Oaxaca, Rubén Lopez Diego continues his ancestral legacy with this remarkable expression of maguey Sierra Negra, RL-SRN-09. Produced in exceptionally limited quantities and exclusively sold to K&L Wines, this release stands as a rare gem for serious collectors and connoisseurs of traditional Mexican spirits.

Ancestral Production Rooted in Authenticity

Crafted from Agave americana var. oaxacensis—commonly known as Sierra Negra—this production began in late October 2023 with the harvesting (jima) of 770 kilograms of mature agaves, aged 8–10 years. The agaves were slow-roasted for six days in a conical earthen oven, fueled by Encino (Mexican oak) wood, which infused the hearts with a subtle smokiness and deep earth tones.

Following this, the cooked agaves were crushed by hand with machetes and wooden mallets—methods that preserve the fibers and natural oils of the plant. Fermentation occurred over six days in open-air 1,200-liter oak vats using local well water and a tree bark called timbre, allowing native yeasts to drive a fully natural process despite the cold mountain nights.

On November 20, 2023, the fermented mash was double-distilled in an 80-liter clay pot still, yielding just 60 liters of finished mezcal. The entire batch was bottled on March 15, 2025, resulting in only 72 bottles of 750 ml each—every one of which was sold to K&L Wines for exclusive distribution in the U.S.

Tasting Notes: Nature, Minerality, and Depth

Aroma: Aromatically, this mezcal is vivid and grounded—wet stones and moss after the rain, lifted by bright citrus tones of lime and cooling eucalyptus, with a faint yet persistent whisper of aged wood.

Palate: The taste is mineral and vibrant, offering an electric tingle across the tongue. Earth-driven flavors of roots, bark, radish, and wet stone emerge in layers, concluding with a saline, elegant finish that lingers with precision.

With only 72 bottles ever produced and the entire lot secured by K&L Wines, RL-SRN-09 is a mezcal as elusive as it is expressive. It is best enjoyed neat, as a digestif, accompanied only by a glass of water—allowing its ancestral purity and complexity to speak without distraction.

This expression of Sierra Negra exemplifies heritage, terroir, and tradition—made in the most limited of quantities and offered to a select few. For those who appreciate the artistry of small-batch, clay-distilled mezcal, this is a bottle worth seeking—and savoring.