Mal Bien Papalote Velilla – Barranca

About this destilado de agave

Mal Bien Papalote Velilla was distilled by Don Ciro Barranca and his grandson Javier in Chilapa de Alvarez, Guerrero. The pair have worked together since 2014 after Javier spent most of his 20s in “El Norte”. This batch of Papalote (Agave cupreata) was made by Javier using maguey from the Las Joyas region to the north of Ahuacuotzintla, where the Barrancas work. The agaves used were “velilla”, meaning they were fully mature, but had not yet grown quiotes. The plants were cooked for 4-5 days in a 10 ton pit, rested for 1 day, milled using a wood chipper, fermented for 5-7 days, and then double distilled using two 400 liter copper alambique stills. The final spirit was adjusted using puntas and colas.

The 95 liter batch released under Agave Mixtape volume 6 was distilled in March 2021.

Agave Mixtape

Agave Mixtape brings the best agave spirits together in one place – your place. Agave Mixtape is a subscription based service. Subscribers receive boxes with three 200ml bottles from three different brands – Lalocura, Mal Bien, and Neta (and maybe a few surprises) – filled with batches picked especially for Agave Mixtape, and not available anywhere else in the USA. Each box includes production notes on the batches, along with links to photos, and virtual tastings with the people behind the brands and the mezcaleros. You can subscribe directly from their website.

Mal Bien

Since 2016, the Mal Bien team has been traveling Mexico, driving off the map and into mountains filled with treacherous roads, police officers of questionable moral character, feral dogs, indigenous languages, narcos, ancient relics, machete wielding protestors, insect based meals, mudslides, blockades, corrupt politicians, and many of the world’s kindest, funniest, most brilliant people. In addition to some hard to believe stories, they’ve connected with a wide variety of traditional producers, whose mezcal is now bottled and exported under the Mal Bien name.