WHAT

Maguey Verde and Pulque

WHERE

Launa de Sánchez, Nuevo León

WHO

Pechotierra Verde is produced by maestro vinatero Jorge Luis Torres Casas in Laguna de Sánchez, Nuevo León. Laguna de Sánchez is in a wooded region of Nuevo León and sits at 1,900 meters above sea level (6,234 feet). Because of relatively cold year-round temperatures, producers in the area use pulque as a natural accelerant in the fermentation process.

HOW

Don Jorge purchases pulque from four different producers in La Cebolla, a town about three hours from Laguna. Each 200-liter fermentation tank at the vinata must be filled 60-70% with pulque before adding the crushed agave. Unlike some other mezcal-producing regions in Mexico that also use pulque as a fermentation starter, there is no water added to the fermentation tanks.

This part of the tradition adds an extra layer of complexity (and cost) to the process, as Don Jorge has to time the pulque purchase perfectly with the tapada/molienda, so that the pulque is at the perfect point of fermentation when he’s ready to start fermenting the crushed agave.