A Prehistoric Pour: Mixing with Erstwhile Espadin

Welcome to the World of Erstwhile Mezcal

If you’re hunting for authentic, small-batch agave spirits, Erstwhile Mezcal needs to be on your radar. Founded with a commitment to transparency, fair trade, and elevating independent family distillers, Erstwhile brings some of the most fascinating and delicious Oaxacan spirits to the US market.

Instead of industrial production, these releases focus on wild agave (and wild non-agave plants) and traditional distillation methods. For spirits enthusiasts in North Carolina, the local ABC system has secured an impressive lineup of their offerings.

The North Carolina Lineup

If you've been keeping an eye on the NC ABC inventory, you might have noticed a fantastic roster of Erstwhile releases. Here are the bottles you can currently track down in North Carolina:

Erstwhile Espadin Mezcal

The Espadin agave is the workhorse of the mezcal world, and Erstwhile’s take on it is a perfect introduction to their portfolio. It’s balanced, approachable, and highly versatile. Whether you want to sip it neat to appreciate the roasted agave notes or mix it into a high-end Oaxaca Old Fashioned, this is a staple bottle for your home bar.

Erstwhile Cucharillo Sotol

While mezcal is distilled from agave, Sotol is distilled from the Dasylirion plant (often known as the Desert Spoon). In Oaxaca, this plant is locally referred to as Cucharillo.

• This is a rare, non-agave spirit that offers a completely different tasting experience.
• Expect bright, botanical, and herbaceous notes like mint and oregano, driven by the wild mountain terroir.

Erstwhile Tepeztate Mezcal

Tepeztate is a wild agave species famous for taking up to 25–30 years to mature. Because it grows on steep, rocky cliffs, harvesting it is a massive undertaking. The resulting mezcal is highly prized for its intense, complex, and deeply vegetal flavor profile. If you love bold green notes, jalapeño, and a mineral finish, this is the bottle to chase.

Erstwhile Five-Spice Duck Pechuga

Pechuga mezcals are traditionally made for special occasions and celebrations. During the final distillation, fruits, spices, and a raw protein (usually poultry) are suspended inside the still. The vapor passes through these ingredients, resulting in a rich, savory, and aromatic spirit. This unique Five-Spice Duck expression brings an incredibly rich mouthfeel and warm, spiced complexity that is hard to find anywhere else.

Erstwhile Turkey Mole Negro Pechuga

Taking the pechuga tradition a step further, this expression incorporates the legendary flavors of Oaxacan Mole Negro. Distilled with turkey and a complex blend of mole spices (think cacao, chiles, and nuts), this mezcal is a savory, culinary masterpiece. It is best enjoyed neat, poured slowly after a heavy, rich meal.

Ready to Shop?

Because these are small-batch, artisanal spirits, availability can vary from store to store. We recommend reaching out to your local NC ABC board to request these specific bottles or checking their online inventory system to see which stores have them in stock.