Even the mezcaleria
in San Cristobal de las Casas, Mexico, doesn’t serve this rare mezcal, which is
not exported. I found a bottle at the Pan Optica bar at the end of
flagstone-tiled Guadalupe Real and dove right in.
400 Conjejos is a joven mezcal made with 100% espadín, a type of agave whose name
means small sword and which is among the main types of agave used for mezcal.
Joven means young, therefore unaged and clear. Unlike unaged tequila, called
silver, joven mezcal has a distinct flavor and is far superior to its tequila
counterpart. It’s an artisanal mezcal, produced in small batches with traditional
methods.
The name, Centzon
totochtin (400 or inumerable rabbits in Nahuatl) refers to the spirits of
alcohol in Mesoamerica associated with sleep and awakening. Its effect varies
according to which of these rabbits influences the drinker, say mezcaleros Don Tacho and Joel Santiago
in Santiago Matatlán, Oaxaca.
Mesoamerican priests drank it during ceremonies in order to better communicate
with their gods.
A Dangerous Man’s Mezcal
With the raw taste of a mezcal that is far from “fruity,” 400
Conejos is the kind of mezcal that would be served in a bar scene from a
Tarantino flick. No worm, but it’s an ominous mezcal that Wes from the film Urban Cowboy would have surely drank
straight from the bottle.
The smoke is thicker than the smog over Beijing. Don’t
even think about a “lingering aftertaste,” just buckle up and get ready for a
kick like one of the mules that powers the trapiche used to crush the agave
hearts after fermenting in wooden tubs. Though 400 Conejos is 38 proof, the
influence of the rabbit who rules the day you drink it delivers potent side
effects.
Sipped and served with slices of orange and sal de gusano, or agave worm salt, 400 Conejos provides a solid base for comparing the wide range of mezcals. For a cocktail, the producers recommend spearmint and orange or lemon juice.
The catch is that you will have to travel to Mexico for 400
Conejos, which is not exported. But that’s one of the little things that make a
Mexican vacation so worthwhile.
Price: Not Exported, but cheap in Mexico
Proof: The bottle I drank from did not state the proof, but it felt like 80+
Rating: 2
More In-depth Mezcal Reviews by Shay Addams
Price: Not Exported, but cheap in Mexico
Proof: The bottle I drank from did not state the proof, but it felt like 80+
Rating: 2
More In-depth Mezcal Reviews by Shay Addams
Hi Shay,
ReplyDeleteHope you are well. I recently discovered this Mezcal and love it. Do you know who the owner is? I have been trying to locate them.
Thank you because you have been willing to share information with us. we will always appreciate all you have done here because I know you are very concerned with our. hakushu 12
ReplyDeleteI got a bottle of this from a friend of mine and i tell you what this will kick you your ball in the dirt if tou drank the whole bottle i been on it for it for a few day's and i can but down a fifth of whisk like nothing there is no way i would do that with this o mean i could but it might not be good lol
ReplyDeleteFifth
ReplyDeletePlease email me at sanchez.interglobal@gmail.com i have this mezcal 400 conejos in the usa
ReplyDelete