Tsunami Mezcal is making waves across agave spirits
With its ‘wild and fresh’ approach, Tsunami Mezcal is excited to introduce agave spirits fans to the ritual of the Mezcalito.
“‘Another Margarita!’ and ‘Can you make it with mezcal?’ are now popular requests heard throughout the UK, as the agave spirits scene continues to thrive.” So says the photojournalist Anna Bruce in a post on mezcalistas.com from last summer.
Mezcal is certainly on the rise in the UK and across Western Europe. It is one of the purest, most versatile and expressive spirits out there, and it has gained a small and growing band of aficionados who love it for its craft and authenticity. Yet it remains very much a niche category that is obviously dwarfed by its giant cousin among agave spirits – Tequila. One new brand that styles itself as a ‘wild and fresh take on mezcal’ is on a mission to shake things up.
Tsunami Mezcal was launched last year as a pure and vibrant expression of the spirit, crafted for sheer drinkability. It was created by the Mexican entrepreneur and brand builder Carlos Sada in partnership with the legendary Francisco Arrañaga.
Sada has specialised in the category for more than 15 years. Having been international business development director for the ultra-premium Marca Negra Mezcal, he went on to co-found Mezcal Meteoro in 2014.
Tsunami’s soul, depicted in the great, blue rolling wave on the label, lies in Puerto Escondido, the tropical ‘hidden port’ on Mexico’s southern coast in the state of Oaxaca, which attracts surfers from all over the world. They come to ride the famed ‘Mexican pipeline’ and then to relax into the warm buzz of the nightlife along the beautiful, palm-fringed playa Zicatela.
This new mezcal is all about capturing the power of those Pacific breakers that pound the shore, and marrying them to the laid-back vibe of Puerto Escondido’s beachfront bars. It is here, after a hard day in the surf, that people gather for Tsunami’s evening ‘ritual of the Mezcalito’. As the sun goes down, it is a time to unwind and share a mezcal, sipped long and slow into the night.
Mezcalogy: the concept of mezcal drinkability
Tsunami is a pure, 100% Maguey, mezcal artisanal that is made with full respect for the traditions of the maestro mezcaliero.
The agave is harvested after ripening for at least eight years in the agave fields of Oaxaca. The piñas are cut and transported to the palenque where they are roasted in pits and then naturally fermented and distilled.
Tsunami Mezcal is a blend with a core of Espadín agave as its base that is mixed with Tobalá agave to give it a bit more spice and freshness. A little sea salt and cypress are also added to reinforce the brand’s maritime roots in Puerto Escondido and give the spirit its slight mineral edge.
The result is a mezcal with a balanced profile of rich, ripe agave, layered with a subtle and controlled smokiness. That is what makes Tsunami so irresistibly drinkable.
For all the care and attention to detail that goes into producing this exciting new mezcal, Tsunami wears its ‘craft’ credentials lightly. Its essence lies in that easy-going Zicatela vibe as a fun-loving, energetic spirit that is set to attract a much wider audience.
Mezcal has won the affection of many top bartenders and mixologists with good reason, and it has built up a growing band of dedicated fans. As Mantas Zlatkus, global portfolio director (innovations) for Amber Beverage Group told The Spirits Business: “Mezcal is all about craft, character, provenance, and authenticity, which is slowly being eroded in the tequila category, particularly with the growth of brands that rely on celebrity endorsement.”
Those behind Tsunami Mezcal agree, but they believe there is a lot more to the category than that. In their words: “We think of mezcal as the better, cooler cousin of tequila, but we want to disconnect the two. We want to swell the mezcal moment and be a new wave within the category and create a real feeling of connection with consumers.”
Tsunami Mezcal is being built not from the top down but from the bar up. Within months of its launch, it has won listings in dozens of top venues and is spreading fast. Consumers have taken to this playful spirit, sipped neat or long in a Highball or in cocktails including the Paloma, the Batanga with Coke, and in smoky Margaritas.
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