Cuishe
Maguey cuishe (or cuixe) is a wild Agave karwinskii. It grows in a cylindrical, stalk-shaped piña, with leaves spreading at the top. It’s often slightly smaller than Maguey madre-cuishe, and yields intensely flavored mezcal with high minerality and spice notes. It’s important to note, however, that the name cuish could refer to slightly different plants depending on region. For example, a Maguey cuish coming from the Santa Catarina Minas area may actually be Agave rhodacantha similar to Maguey mexicano.
Photo courtesy of our friends at Maguey Melate