La Medida Arroqueno Joven Mezcal

La Medida Mezcal (“the measure”) is a collaborative brand created by Julián Vidal Gómez Rodríguez, who has been one of the unsung icons of Oaxacan mezcal for over 40 years.

Julian’s history reads like a narrative of the evolution of the modern mezcal industry, at a gradual transition in scale. Beginning with early commercialization decades ago, Julian witnessed firsthand the rise of industrial distillers like Monte Alban and Benevá; he left to help open the door to artisanal mezcal alongside Ron Cooper during the first years of Del Maguey, and eventually he moved on to co-found the tiny artisanal brand he operates today.

Alongside his son, Julián works in concert with several highly regarded mezcaleros around Oaxaca (including the enigmatic legend Don Celso, who co-founded the brand) to showcase a diverse range of wild and cultivated single-varietal bottlings.

The massive Arroqueño, a subspecies of the Agave americana, typically takes around twenty years to mature. Grown wild, the varietal was nearly extinct just a few decades ago, but has recovered in recent years, its population regrowing especially in southern Oaxaca districts like Miahuatlán through the efforts of mezcaleros and conservation activists in the region.

Coveted for its high concentration of sugars over decades of growth, La Medida Arroqueno Joven Mezcal offers a rich and fragrant approach. A particularly exuberant example, this batch from José Díaz Bustamante is creamy and full bodied, the aromas redolent with young pear, string bean, asparagus, salted caramel, butterscotch, creme brulee and movie theater popcorn…. Mezcal for dessert, anyone?