Cuishe mezcal is one of the agave world's most coveted expressions, and El Rey Zapoteco brings it to life with the kind of wild, unhurried character that makes single-agave mezcal so compelling. Distilled from the long-leafed Agave karwinskii, this bottling is a direct line to the rugged terrain and ancestral craft of Oaxaca.

Agave karwinskii, locally known as cuishe, grows slowly and develops an intense concentration of sugars and earthy complexity before harvest. El Rey Zapoteco honors that patience with traditional small-batch production rooted in Zapotec mezcalero heritage, where wood-fired pit roasting, stone milling, and open-air fermentation shape every drop. The result is a mezcal that carries the fingerprint of its land without apology.

• Nose: Wild and herbaceous with notes of roasted agave, dried grass, mineral earth, and a subtle green olive character unique to the cuishe variety
• Palate: Medium-bodied and layered, offering savory smoke, tropical fruit, dried citrus peel, and a distinctive vegetal richness that cuishe mezcal lovers seek out
• Finish: Long and dry with lingering smoke, clay, and a clean mineral edge that invites the next sip

El Rey Zapoteco Cuishe holds its own in a Mezcal Negroni or a Oaxacan Old Fashioned, where its savory depth and smoky structure anchor the cocktail beautifully. It is equally rewarding neat, allowing the full complexity of the cuishe agave to unfold without distraction.

Best served neat or with a small pour of still water to open the aromas. El Rey Zapoteco Cuishe Mezcal is crafted from Agave karwinskii (cuishe) sourced from the Oaxaca region of Mexico.