Our very own Rooster Rojo Mezcal has received its first medal – a coveted Masters Award in The Spirits Business Tequila and Mezcal Masters. This ultra-premium Mezcal expression adds to an already successful Rooster Rojo agave range that is often the choice of bartenders around the world.
Two panels of judges gathered in London on a frosty but sunny January day to assess the 2024 entrants.
The judges found this mezcal to be “elegant, but still full of personality”. They liked the “lighter floral esters complementing the rich, more vegetal notes. Lavender and thyme, with surprisingly subtle smoke.” To read the full article, click here.
Rooster Rojo Mezcal is a pure, traditionally hand-crafted Mezcal from Oaxaca. This authentic Mexican drink is created in the small craft distillery of Lopes Sosa Palenque in Oaxaca, Mexico, with which Amber Beverage Group is partnering for this venture.
Mantas Zlatkus, Global Brand Director for the Rooster Rojo brand, said: “This is a traditional product with a modern take that amplifies all the best features of a Mezcal. We believe we managed to create something unique, as with our Rooster Rojo tequilas. We wanted to add more character to the drink to make it noble and serious, but without sacrificing the smoothness of the product, so the structure was achieved by increasing the ABV to 43%.”
Mezcal is a precious liquid, and nearly all Mezcals are hand-crafted using the traditional tahona wheel and manual work. The liquid is made by cooking the agave pinas in underground ovens. The plants have been expertly cultivated for seven years. Copper pot stills, sealed with local clay, are used for the distillation of this exceptional artisanal liquid, whilst open wooden vats, covered with agave fibres, are used for fermentation.
Each bottle of Rooster Rojo Mezcal is signed by the Maestro mezcalero (the master Mezcal maker), Rodolfo Lopez Juan, to authenticate it.
The dark, traditional, opaque bottle looks striking and has been designed to prevent the liquid from being affected by direct sunlight. The perfect serve for Rooster Rojo Mezcal is neat, at room temperature, and it can also be served in classic Mezcal cocktails. The expression was launched internationally in 2023.