Real Minero San Martinero

About this mezcal

Real Minero San Martinero is made using maguey San Martinero (agave Karwinskii) in Santa Catarina Minas, Oaxaca. The name San Martinero can mean different things to different producers. Some will tell you that this is the same as Barril, but that’s not the case for Real Minero. They are well-known for their agave nursery, as well as the level of specificity that they use in naming the magueyes used in their mezcal. For example, if the agave grows on a certain hill vs near a certain river, they could have different names.

Real Minero

Real Minero (previously Mezcal Real Minero) is considered by many to be one of the world’s finest mezcal producers. The Angeles family has been making mezcal for several generations in Santa Catarina Minas, Oaxaca. Their mezcal is made in small clay pot stills, and almost all of it is rested in glass for several months before bottling, giving the mezcal a much softer character. Outside of creating great spirits, they also have one of the largest and most diverse sustainable agave reforestation programs. With the help of the community, they’ve been able to rescue several agave varieties that were previously thought to be extinct. The ABV of each batch may vary slightly, so check your bottle for details.

In 2020, the brand began dropping the word “mezcal” from their labels. The term “traditional” replaces the CRM “ancestral” designation. Shortly thereafter, the brand officially parted ways with the certification process; all future releases will be labeled as “agave spirits” or something similar. Despite the label changes, nothing significant about their production process has changed over years.

Learn more:

• Real Minero agave nursery tour on Mezcal Reviews
• Real Minero palenque tour on Mezcal Reviews
• Listen to Graciela Angeles Carreño talk about her family’s production on the Show De Vie Podcast: Ep 291 – Graciela Angeles Carreño – The Real Thing.