Santo Cuviso Lechuguilla makes European debut
Mexican producer Casa Santeros and distributor AliasSmith have revealed that the inaugural shipment of Santo Cuviso Lechuguilla agave spirits to Europe will arrive in January 2026.
Santo Cuviso is a brand of Mexican agave spirits produced by Casa Santeros – a vertically integrated, family-owned producer with a legacy spanning four generations in the Oroz family – located at Rancho San Isidro in Quiriego, Sonora, in northern Mexico.
The company operates on a 7,000-hectare estate that uses solar energy and natural well water, and maintains complete control over agave cultivation and production.
Rooted in generations of knowledge and tradition surrounding agave, the company’s Santo Cuviso brand was founded with a mission to preserve the Sonoran Desert’s agave heritage while crafting exceptional spirits using traditional, sustainable methods.
Casa Santeros is internationally known for its Bacanora expressions – an agave-derived spirit made in the Mexican state of Sonora – but Lechuguilla stands out as one of the most elusive and intriguing spirits in its collection.
Made from the wild Agave Shrevei (Lechuguilla), which is endemic to the harsh desert and mountainous regions of the Sierra Madre Occidental in northern Mexico, the distillate is produced in very limited quantities and is rarely exported.
Santo Cuviso Lechuguilla is crafted using traditional regional techniques. Mature agave plants are harvested at 12-15 years old, and are then slow-roasted in underground conical ovens made of volcanic stone.
The agave is then crushed with an axe and a mill, naturally fermented in open vessels with well water, and double-distilled in copper stills. The result is a powerful yet refined spirit, bottled at 47.5% ABV and free of additives.
On the nose, Santo Cuviso Lechuguilla offers intense earthy, smoky, and herbal aromas, complemented by subtle citrus notes. On the palate, it reveals flavours of eucalyptus, sweet agave, and herbal notes with smoky undertones.
The spirit is best enjoyed neat or with a splash of soda.
Extremely limited
The inaugural release of this spirit, which is described as ‘one of Mexico’s most enigmatic agave distillates’, will be available in extremely limited quantities in select European markets.
Javier Oroz, founder of Casa Santeros, said: “Lechuguilla is not a spirit you can scale or rush. It comes from extreme conditions and is crafted entirely by hand, with patience, passion, and respect for the land.
“Bringing Santo Cuviso Lechuguilla to Europe for the first time is deeply personal for us and a great source of pride. This first shipment is intentionally small – it is an exclusive invitation for a few markets to discover one of the most authentic and rare agave expressions in all of Mexico.”
With its European debut, Santo Cuviso Lechuguilla aims to draw the attention of bartenders, collectors, and agave enthusiasts seeking spirits that go beyond trends and connect directly to their origins, history, and craft.
The European distribution of Santo Cuviso, including the initial Lechuguilla release, is being managed by AliasSmith, which acts as a strategic partner in selected European markets and promotes a focused, long-term brand-building strategy rather than volume-driven growth.
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