Award-winning mezcal brand The Lost Explorer just launched The Lost Explorer Reserva del Maestro, a limited-edition series that debuts with Madre Cuishe.
The Lost Explorer Reserva del Maestro Madre Cuishe joins the brand’s core lineup of mezcals: Espadín, Tobalá and Salmiana – and now Reserva – all created by Maestro Mezcalero Ramos, who brings four decades of expertise, according to the brand. Carefully selected for the 2024 Reserva del Maestro edition, Madre Cuishe is a wild-harvested agave known for its resilience.
How Reserva del Maestro is made
The Lost Explorer Reserva del Maestro is made from 12-year-old Madre Cuishe agave, according to the brand, hand-harvested by Jimadores in Oaxaca. During the harvest, the protective leaves are carefully removed with the coa to expose the piñas, which are then divided for two distinct cooking methods. A portion of the piñas is slow-cooked in large conical earthen ovens for approximately 72 hours, while the remaining piñas are steamed in above-ground masonry brick ovens for 24 hours. This dual cooking process not only enhances the complexity of flavors but also minimizes the carbon footprint.
After cooking in an isolated and sterilized area, the agave is milled and fermented in open-air wooden vats filled with spring water, according to the brand, allowing wild yeast to interact with the elements and develop the mezcal’s intricate profile. The mezcal then undergoes a double distillation.
The 2024 limited edition Madre Cuishe expression of The Lost Explorer Maestro del Reserva is bottled at 45% ABV, according to the brand. Available at an SRP of $120, the spirit is now available in key markets throughout the United States as well as globally in Mexico.
