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

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About this deal

All industries are affected by global supply chain challenges. We ensure that we meet partners’ needs, carefully select our target markets and increase our logistics spend to avoid supply and sell-through disruption — that’s how to build the firm foundation that a leading brand requires,” Esclapez added. That fledgling ambition required a leadership team that could navigate the pandemic’s severe distribution detours and unexpected marketing hurdles. 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. The Lost Laboratory is currently germinating seeds of genetically diverse agave on distillery land and experimenting with replanting initiatives to help expand and scale their replanting program. Agave waste is also a big focus area within the production of mezcal. In addition to repurposing agave waste into fertilizer for the land, an initiative from last year was using agave waste to make copitas. This endeavor was overseen by Maestro Fortino’s daughter, mezcalera in the making, Xitlali Ramos.

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 Those three principles connect concepts to cash flow, promote cross-functional collaboration and invigorate stakeholder relationships critical to lasting success. Top shelf

The Lost Explorer Mezcal Review

Like many brands, especially those formed outside of Mexico, The Lost Explorer is built on a foundation of privilege and Rothschild’s is to the high end of that privilege. However, there is credit due, given the extent of the work being done to focus on the sustainable agenda, both environmental and social. Maestro Ramos and his family are shareholders in the brand and there is an emphasis on their story, and that of mezcal (rather than Rothschild’s) throughout the presentation of The Lost Explorer. 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. Traditionally, consumers are introduced to alcohol brands through “on-trade” channels via such as restaurants, bars and clubs. With hospitality venues shuttered by the pandemic, brands had to move to “off-trade” and “direct to consumer” promotion.

While Espadín is the most commonly sourced varietal for mezcal and thus is now less commonly wild-harvested, many of the other wild, rarer varietals—such as Tobalá and Salmiana—involve the time- and labor-intensive process of foraging from their hardscrabble habitats. In partnership with award-winning Maestro Mezcalero Don Fortino Ramos, The Lost Explorer Mezcal is committed to the sustainable production of high-quality handcrafted mezcal in a manner that benefits the local mezcal-producing community in Oaxaca and protects the land’s biodiversity, with the long-term mission of becoming the most sustainable mezcal brand in the world. PRODUCT RANGE 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. Of the 270 species of agave, around 30 can be distilled to make mezcal. In 1994, mezcal received its own denomination of origin, allowing it to be made in only ten Mexican states, although the vast majority of mezcals are made in the mystical valleys of Oaxaca.Mexico’s intrinsic value shows up in two ways when it comes to mezcal making: terroir and Indigenous generational knowledge. The word Mezcal originates from Nahuatl. Some believe it derives from mexcalli, metl or meztl means maguey (type of agave), and ixcalli, to cook. The translation would then be “cooked maguey,” which gives a perfect idea of its elaboration process. 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.

Positioning the mezcal alongside other premium brands relies not only on exceptional liquid quality and sustainability credentials, but also on distributors’ confidence and belief in the brand proposition. “In addition to sales and marketing, effective revenue management is key to brand building. We monitor and analyze market penetration and competitive price positioning in the agave spirits category,” Esclapez emphasized.

Mezcal makers and aficionados have an innate respect for the patience demanded by the process of mezcal-making, but you don’t have to be an expert to enjoy a slow sip and appreciate the complexities time has created here. THE PROCESS: MEZCAL VS. TEQUILA PRODUCTION The most interesting (and costly) bottle in the Lost Explorer lineup. Big minty notes. Some mint chip ice cream. Jonny’s review is spot on with Jolly Ranchers, I get the watermelon flavor. I can see people really getting into this one because it is not too smoky nor harsh. It is approachable and quite unique. Flavors aren’t very complex but they’re outside the average Oaxacan mezcal spectrum. Bit of water on the finish. On the terroir side, agave plants are endemic to Mexico. The popularity of the distilled spirit has prompted agave to be introduced and cultivated in similar bioregions like California, Australia, South Africa, Peru, Venezuela, India. However, denomination of Origin protects the word “mezcal” and the territory (only 10 states within Mexico are allowed to produce genuine mezcal) — similar to how wine and champagne are protected. Terroir is king. 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. The Lost Explorer Mezcal is a handcrafted spirit cultivated on ancestral Miztec land in the sun-soaked Valles Centrales, Oaxaca. Harvested in harmony with the elements and in tune with the rhythm of nature, this small-batch artisanal mezcal invites people to Live Curiously and Celebrate the Earth, exploring the wonder and diversity of the sacred agave.

Beyond consumer engagement and marketing initiatives, Escalapez offered three key, often understated, suggestions for CFOs and CIOs tasked with brand building. 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.” 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.

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Don Fortino refers to this alchemy as cultural mysticism. It connects him to ancestral knowledge and spiritual way of doing things. It also keeps the human touch as an integral part of the process, where he and his team can witness the changes to the land and respond to them.

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