ADVANCED MIXOLOGY
THAT’S THE SPIRIT
Agave Spirits that Live and Breathe Mexico CHOPIN IMPORTS IS ON ITS WAY TO BECOMING ONE OF THE BIGGEST NAMES IN AGAVE
By Michael Tulipan The name Chopin may be best associated with vodka—apologies to the Polish composer—but Chopin Imports has built an extensive portfolio of premium brands beyond vodka, with a special focus on Mexican agave spirits. Mezcal making is woven into the fabric of many Mexican communities and Chopin Imports has partnered with two artisan producers, Koch El Mezcal and Maguey Spirits, who both share a commitment to sustainability and traditional methods. “We have partnered with those we feel are the top two producers throughout Mexico,” says Chopin Imports COO Chuck Kane’. “They are not contract brands. They live and breathe what they do 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.”
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CHILLED MAGAZINE
Koch El Mezcal’s origins date back to the Mexican Revolution. The family business was resurrected in 2009, when Carlos Moreno resumed his family business and its traditions. Today the company is community-run and dedicated to environmental stewardship. They work with 60 mezcal producing families from more than 20 communities in and around Oaxaca, creating a portfolio made from wild, cultivated, and semi-cultivated agaves. Koch El Mezcal has also pioneered single agave mezcals, showcasing the differences in wild agave plants. In addition to the traditional Espadin, you will see names like Arroqueno, Tepeztate, Tobalá, Barril, Tobasiche and Madrecuishe. Koch’s Ensamble mezcal blends four agave, sourced from local families.
