Cupreata is Guerrero's own maguey, and it is one of the more characterful agaves in the mezcal category. It grows wild across the steep, rocky slopes of the Sierra Madre del Sur, takes many years to reach maturity, and yields a comparatively small piña for the effort involved, which is why cupreata has never been produced at scale. This bottling comes from Mazatlán in Guerrero and is released in tightly limited numbered lots, with the year, lot number and individual bottle number filled in by hand on every label alongside the maestro mezcalero's signature. The bottle in this listing comes from a run of 1,500. What cupreata offers is a profile quite unlike Oaxacan espadín. It runs bright and herbaceous rather than sweet and heavily smoked, with pronounced green vegetal character, citrus lift and a mineral streak drawn from the rocky ground the plants grow in. The smoke is present but restrained, sitting behind the fruit rather than announcing itself. That balance makes it an unusually articulate mezcal, and one that rewards attention rather than demanding it. Serve it neat in a copita at room temperature and give it several minutes to open, because the herbal and mineral notes build considerably with air. This is a bottle for someone who has worked through the Oaxacan classics and wants to understand how much the maguey and the state actually change things, and the hand numbered lot means it holds interest well beyond the pour.
ABV / Proof
| ABV |
45% |
| Proof |
90 |
| Size |
750ml |
| Country |
Mexico |
| Region |
Mazatlán, Guerrero |
| Category |
Mezcal Artesanal |
| Expression |
Cupreata, Joven |
| Maguey |
100% Agave Cupreata |
| Lot |
No. 1, bottle 1 of 1,500 |
| Age |
Unaged |
Tasting Notes
Color: Crystal clear and bright, unaged with no wood contact.
Nose: Green and herbaceous, with cooked agave, citrus peel and a clear mineral edge over restrained smoke.
Palate: Bright and vegetal, with roasted agave sweetness, herbal notes and citrus, the smoke sitting well behind the fruit and a firm mineral backbone throughout.
Finish: Clean and medium long, closing on minerals, green herbs and lingering agave.
FAQ
What proof is Amarás Cupreata? It is bottled at 90 proof, or 45 percent alcohol by volume.
What is cupreata? Agave cupreata, the signature maguey of Guerrero. It grows wild on steep rocky hillsides in the Sierra Madre del Sur and takes many years to mature, producing a comparatively small piña.
How does it differ from Oaxacan mezcal? Cupreata runs brighter, greener and more mineral than Oaxacan espadín, with citrus and herbal character leading and the smoke sitting further back.
What do the handwritten numbers mean? Each bottle is marked by hand with the production year, the lot number and its individual bottle number within that lot, alongside the maestro mezcalero's signature. This bottle comes from a run of 1,500.
Is it aged? No. It is a joven, bottled unaged and clear, so everything in the glass comes from the agave and the distillation.
Where can I buy Amarás Cupreata Mezcal online? Available here at Liquor On Broadway while stock lasts, with fast insured shipping nationwide.
