Niños Viejos Madrecuishe Mezcal – Victor & Emanuel Ramos

Mal Bien Niños Viejos Madrecuishe Mezcal – Victor & Emanuel Ramos

30-Year-Old Madrecuishe Agave | 101 Proof | Only 401 Bottles Produced

Production Highlights

• Mezcaleros: Victor & Emanuel Ramos
• Agave: 100% Madrecuishe (Agave karwinskii)
• Agave Age: Approximately 30 years
• Origin: Mengolí de Morelos, Miahuatlán, Oaxaca
• Harvest: October 2023
• Batch: 1023VFR
• Production: 401 bottles
• Cooking: Six days in an underground pit
• Milling: Traditional tahona
• Fermentation: Sabino and oak tanks
• Distillation: Twice distilled in copper alembic stills
• Proof: 101 | 50.5% ABV
• Size: 750 mL

The Story Behind Niños Viejos

Thirty years in the making.

In 1993, shortly after the birth of his son Emanuel, mezcalero Victor Ramos planted a field of Madrecuishe agaves in Oaxaca. Life got busy, and the field was eventually abandoned, leaving the agaves to grow wild for three decades.

Madrecuishe typically matures in 9–11 years, but these neglected plants developed unusually slowly, reaching just over three feet tall instead of their typical six-foot height.

In October 2023, shortly after Emanuel celebrated his 30th birthday, Victor harvested the first batch.

He called them Niños Viejos, or “Old Boys,” a reference to their extraordinary age and surprisingly youthful appearance.

The result is an exceptionally limited Madrecuishe mezcal with a remarkable father-and-son story and just 401 bottles produced.

Traditional Oaxacan Production

The agaves are roasted for six days in an underground pit using encino, guamuche, and mesquite wood before being crushed by tahona.

Fermentation takes place in sabino and oak tanks, followed by two distillations in copper alembic stills.

 

Tasting Profile

• Nose: Roasted agave, fresh herbs, citrus, earthy minerality, subtle smoke
• Palate: Cooked agave, herbal complexity, citrus zest, earthy notes
• Finish: Lingering herbal spice, minerality, and roasted agave

Thirty-year-old agaves. Two generations of mezcaleros. Just 401 bottles. A distinctive, limited-production expression for serious mezcal enthusiasts and collectors.