Quiquiriqui Mexicano

 In some regions, agave Mexicano is also known as Dobadaan (its local name in Zapotec). Mexicano grows from Sonora south to Oaxaca, mostly in the foothills. Drinking Mezcal made with Mexicano is a unique experience. Though exact numbers are unknown, some speculate that there are seven or more sub-varieties of Mexicano, including Mexicano Penca Larga, Mexicano Penca Corta, Mexicano Liso, Chontal and Amarillo Grande. Each— like grapes to wine—yield different varietal characteristics. 

Using 10-year-old wild and semi-wild agave grown within an hour’s drive of the palenque, QQRQ’s Mexicano is crafted in Santiago Matatlán by Carlos Méndez, the sixth-generation Mezcalero behind QQRQ’s house Mezcal. A passionate advocate of sustainability, Méndez collects wild seeds from the hills, cultivating and nurturing them in safe conditions before reintroducing these plants to the wild.