Lalocura Espadin is made by Eduardo “Lalo” Angeles in Santa Catarina Minas. Known widely for his expertise in clay-pot distillation, Lala cuts no corners when making his mezcal. The agave are cooked in an underground stone horno with Encino wood, mashed by hand using mallets, fermented with natural open-air yeasts for 12 days, and then double distilled in a small clay pot still.
Before starting Lalocura in 2014, Eduardo “Lalo” Ángeles spent years working as the fourth generation master mezcalero of his family’s brand Real Minero, where he combined a lifetime of working under his father, the late, great Don Lorenzo with a collegiate degree in agricultural engineering. Many Real Minero bottles from several years ago actually have Eduardo listed alongside his father as the master distiller. Lalocura’s clay pot distilled mezcals have built a steady cult following over the last few years. People from around the world show up at the palenque in Santa Catarina Minas each day hoping to spend time listening to Lalo tell stories while they taste the 20+ expressions he has resting in glass at any given time. If you like clay pot distilled mezcal and you like Real Minero, it’s highly recommended that you find some Lalocura.
Aromas include fruit, agave sweetness, and earthiness. Some detect minerality or woody notes. Flavors consist of fruit, sweetness like caramel or toffee, and agave. Some find buttery or nutty notes with a mild smokiness. Overall, the spirit is well-regarded as a balanced and approachable espadin, though opinions vary on its complexity and value.