Mezcal Process:
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steam drifting up from the condensing tank at san baltazar
Most artisanal mezcal stills used to be clay, but now many destilerías have small copper potstills. The stills are placed in a masonry base – clay and rock, or sometimes brick – with a wood-fired oven underneath.
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san juan deL rio
A new copper potstill. That’s the condensing coil in back.
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los danzantes
A copper potstill with the top removed. The tall columns are vent pipes for the oven.
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The fermented liquid is transferred from the tina to the still in 5-gallon buckets.
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san juan del rio
It’s hard work. The ladder is for getting at the liquid low down in the tina.
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san juan del rio
Pouring the liquid into the potstill.
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los danzantes
The fermented solids are wheelbarrowed
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los danzantes
Fully charged with liquids and fibers. The tequila folks use only the liquid.
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san juan del rio
Putting the top on the still.
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san juan del rio
Connecting the pot to the condensing coil/tank.
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san juan del rio
A still in operation at San Juan del Rio. The potstill is at right, with the wood fire below and the condensing tank at left.
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real minero
Tending the fire. Maintaining a constant temperature is very important.
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san luis del rio
Cool river water flowing into the condensation tank.
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san andres
Condensed back to a liquid, the distillate is collected in containers.
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san baltazar
Keeping an eye on things. A lot of distillation is waiting for the right time to do the next thing.
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real minero
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san juan del rio
After all the alcohol has been extracted, the solids, bagasso, are discarded, and you start again.
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San Juan del Rio’s Iglesia.
Photographs by Katherine Lewis