The Lost Explorer Mezcal Espadín, 70cl | Award Winning Artisanal Mezcal | 42%

Product Information

To have any chance of standing out in this market you have to pay homage to the craft. Consumers and bartenders have so much choice these days, so you need to capture their attention.

The difference between mezcal and tequila? Clearly a lot of things. But really, we think the biggest marker comes down to patience, time and curiosity. We are inspired by the patience required in the process of mezcal-making and the play and curiosity that come with exploring the many species of agave you can experiment with. And while, generally, the time, labor, and expertise required to make mezcal results in it costing more than many tequilas, we happily embrace that there are no shortcuts. agave, wild crafted and artisan. There are three mezcal varietals in the range, each born from a process deeply in tune with the rhythm of nature: Espadín, Tobalá and Salmiana I’ve worked with big brands for 20 years in the sustainable space, advising companies like Levis on how to use less water in the production of their jeans. I wanted to develop my own sustainable product with sharing at its heart. There’s still a lot of disposability in the sustainable space, but I feel there’s a savouring and a depth to the mezcal experience. The goal was to make the best mezcal. Focusing on climate action, Lost Explorer is working with Isla Urbana, an NGO dedicated to contributing to water sustainability in Mexico through rainwater harvesting, specifically in highly marginalized communities where access to clean water is limited. The Lost Explorer partnership will begin with supporting an additional four rainwater harvesting systems within the Oaxacan communities of San Jose Tenango. It’s important to clear up two of the most common misconceptions about Mezcal. Firstly, Tequila is a specific type of Mezcal (made with the blue agave plant) and not the other way around. Secondly, Mezcal is not related to the hallucinogenic drug mescaline which is derived from the cactus plant. The agave plant is a succulent just like the cactus but they are different species; full marks to the South Americans though for finding so many fun ways to get high from such unlikely looking vegetation!Those three principles connect concepts to cash flow, promote cross-functional collaboration and invigorate stakeholder relationships critical to lasting success. Top shelf Environmental sustainability is at the forefront of The Lost Explorer’s agenda (a complete list of these efforts are below). Examples of the brand commitments currently encompass rainwater conservation, the use of reclaimed wood, replanting at least three agaves for every agave distilled, up-cycling agave waste and using solar panels. These actions are researched and implemented through their in-house research space, the “Lost Laboratory.” If you can work in partnership with Nature, you’ll produce something brilliant. And that’s exactly what Fortino does, because he does it with such intentionality to respect the plant and the craft—it comes from the earth, from his hands, from his mind, his passion, his creativity, his ingenuity, his enthusiasm. We have a shared commitment and we decided that we are going to do something together that is meaningful to both of us.

As the agave spirits trend continues to take hold, people are becoming more curious and inquisitive about mezcal, and that growing interest is benefitting the premium end of the market”, commented Tanya Clarke, CEO of The Lost Explorer Mezcal. This wide span of agaves eligible for mezcal-making is what excites us most. There is an element of chase in pursuit of the varietal a mezcalero will select for his prized mezcal. More regions and more options of agave means more experimentation, greater nuances, and a big opportunity for biodiversity. TYPES OF MEZCAL The nuances in taste come from of course the different agave species themselves, but also the great sensitivities to the environment each plant has. The notion of “terroir” in wine also applies to mezcal, where the various agaves act as palettes for the earth they’re grown in. The many years the agaves take to mature means they experience many climate cycles and have a significant amount of time to soak up the characteristics of the region—the sun, aridity, altitude, soil composition, the neighboring plants sharing the soil. We have a huge supplier network for our agave plants, which take years before they’re ready to be harvested. Agave is a really clever plant; it’s full of sugar in the desert, which is devoid of life. Its spikes protect it from animals and it stores up all its sugars for its moment of procreation.CFO Olesya Esclapez credited cross-functional collaboration for that successful shift, highlighting, “I work closely the sales, marketing, production, and supply teams to expand and grow our business. Adaptability and resilience are key. We balance long-term ambition with flexible short-term plans. That’s been our mindset from the start.” Novel and nimble Xitlali will one day take the reins of production for The Lost Explorer, so the issue of gender equality is significant to the ongoing relationship between mezcalera and the brand. Xitlali is already stepping up to help grow the sustainable agenda of her family palenque; “I feel that all our sensitivity, vision to grow beyond what we are, and empowerment are what we as women can offer to this industry that men have mainly led in the past.” We’ll work with what our audience wants, what barmen like, and what we can harvest sustainably. We’ll introduce limited edition blends down the line. Quality and attention to detail connect all three expressions. We could all be doing more. I tend to prefer to talk about sustainability and how, in our case, we want to be able to respect our planet and its communities while maintaining a certain level of mezcal making. I don’t think it’s just about being ‘green’. Our production is carried out in a manner that benefits the local mezcal-producing community in Oaxaca and also protects the land’s biodiversity.