Mezcal Espadin, Borroso

Empowering Tradition: Borroso's Journey to Preserve Ancestral Craftsmanship and Community Legacy

Established in 2011 by sisters Maru and Claudia Turrent, Borroso was born of a love for ancestral traditions and a desire to sustainably promote the artisanal, agricultural products of Oaxaca.

Before the founding of Borroso, Claudia, an architect, was assisting with the buildout of a major new palenque (distilling site) in Santiago Matatlán, Oaxaca; meanwhile, Maru was working on a community outreach project—also in Oaxaca—promoting literacy and developing rural libraries. Seizing the opportunity to collaborate, the sisters began working on a social project to assist struggling mezcalero families.

Claudia and Maru found many mezcaleros were housing numerous batches, and the sisters pivoted to create a mezcal label that could provide a consistent market for these untapped stores. As an added benefit, this allowed them an opportunity to dovetail their respective skillsets into one family project.

Borroso works closely with mezcalero families who are actively preserving unique distilling methods, in turn helping families remain together while transferring the heritage of their mezcalero ancestors to subsequent generations rather than losing that knowledge to migration.

The word Borroso translates to “blurry” and refers to a non-binary world without edges or absolute truths—only an infinite palette of gradients where borders cease to exist, and prejudice is stripped away. Borroso acts as a conduit for the surreal experience of drinking mezcal, which can seemingly transcend the intellectual and earthy by evoking an ethereal, dream-like state of being. Everything is blurry until it becomes clear…

MEZCAL ESPADÍN

Crafted from 100% Espadín agave, each bottle of Borroso mezcal tells a story of meticulous care and dedication. The journey begins with the selection of the finest agave plants, grown and harvested on Armando's family estate spanning 40 hectares in eastern Oaxaca. It's a labor of love that spans generations, ensuring that every sip reflects the essence of the land and the spirit of the people who cultivate it.

In the traditional process of production, the Espadín agaves are cooked in a conical stone pit oven, using mesquite and tepehuaje wood, infusing the mezcal with a rich and smoky flavor profile. The agaves are then milled using a traditional stone tahona, extracting every ounce of flavor from the succulent hearts.

Open fermentation in wooden vats, using well water, adds another layer of complexity to the mezcal, allowing the flavors to develop and evolve over 8-10 days. Finally, the spirit is distilled twice in copper alembic stills, further refining its character and ensuring a smooth and balanced finish.

The result? A mezcal that captivates the senses from the very first pour. With a citrus-driven nose of lemongrass, green papaya, and lime oil, followed by a palate bursting with sweet orange, ripe kiwi, and grapefruit peel, Borroso mezcal offers a journey of flavors that is both refreshing and invigorating.

At 49% ABV, Borroso mezcal is perfect for neat sipping or as the star ingredient in your favorite cocktails. Its dry, citrusy, and slightly herbaceous profile makes it highly approachable, yet complex enough to satisfy the most discerning palates.

So, whether you're a seasoned mezcal aficionado or new to the world of agave spirits, let Borroso mezcal transport you to the rugged landscapes of Oaxaca, where tradition, craftsmanship, and community come together in every bottle. Cheers to the spirit of Soledad Salinas Quiatoni, and to the timeless art of mezcal-making.