Real Matlatl Anejo Mezcal 750ML

Real Matlatl Anejo Mezcal 750ML is a 750ml artisanal añejo mezcal from Santiago Matatlán, Oaxaca, made from 100% Espadin agave and aged three years in American oak casks. Produced at over 5,400 feet in the Sierra Madre Oriental Mountains under the direction of Master Distiller Don Tacho, this expression stands out for its unusually long barrel maturation — well beyond the 12-month minimum required for the añejo designation.

Quick Facts: Origin: Santiago Matatlán, Oaxaca, Mexico  |  Age: 3 Years in American Oak  |  Agave: 100% Espadin  |  Master Distiller: Don Tacho

Production & Heritage

Real Matlatl operates a palenque and storefront in Santiago Matatlán, a village widely regarded as the world capital of mezcal. The brand adheres to a strict no-metal philosophy: agave piñas are hand-planted, hand-harvested, and roasted in traditional underground pit ovens fired with mesquite wood and volcanic stone. Natural fermentation occurs without mechanical intervention, and distillation takes place in traditional copper pot stills — the only point at which metal contacts the spirit. Don Tacho personally selects the year's finest distillation for the añejo program, which then matures for a full three years in American oak casks, yielding a deeply layered expression that remains connected to its agave origins.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Aged tobacco leaf and worn leather greet the nose first, followed by warming layers of cinnamon bark and toasted oak. A subtle undercurrent of roasted agave and mesquite smoke lingers beneath the barrel-influenced aromatics.

Taste: The entry is velvety and round, with immediate notes of nutmeg and baking spice that transition into rich vanilla at mid-palate. Deeper flavors of dark caramel and gentle smoke emerge as the spirit opens, balanced by the herbaceous character of cooked Espadin agave that keeps the oak from dominating.

Finish: Long and warming, with cinnamon and leather carrying through to a dry, lightly smoky close. A faint sweetness of vanilla and dried fruit persists well after the final sip.

How to Drink Real Matlatl Añejo

Three years in oak have softened this mezcal considerably, making it an ideal candidate for sipping neat at room temperature or with a single cube of ice to gradually open the aromatics. A few drops of water can further reveal the roasted agave backbone beneath the barrel influence.

• Oaxaca Old Fashioned: The extended oak aging and vanilla-spice profile give this añejo the structure to stand in for whiskey in this modern classic.
• Mezcal Manhattan: Its tobacco and leather notes complement sweet vermouth beautifully, producing a rich and layered variation on the traditional cocktail.
• Añejo Sour: The nutmeg and cinnamon character pairs naturally with egg white and citrus, creating a textured, dessert-like cocktail.

Best For

• Sipping neat after dinner as a contemplative spirit
• Gifting a mezcal enthusiast seeking a longer-aged, barrel-forward expression
• Introducing whiskey drinkers to mezcal through familiar oak and spice flavors
• Building a mezcal collection that spans the full aging spectrum

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Real Matlatl Añejo taste like? It delivers a velvety combination of nutmeg, cinnamon, and vanilla from three years in American oak, layered over roasted Espadin agave and gentle mesquite smoke. Leather and aged tobacco leaf appear on both the nose and the lingering finish.

How does Real Matlatl Añejo compare to Ilegal Añejo Mezcal? Both are Oaxacan mezcals aged in American oak, but Real Matlatl's three-year maturation is significantly longer than the roughly 13 months Ilegal Añejo spends in barrel. This extended aging gives Real Matlatl a more pronounced oak and spice character with deeper vanilla notes.

Is Real Matlatl Añejo good for sipping neat? Yes — the three-year oak aging rounds out any rough edges and builds layers of spice and sweetness that reward slow, unhurried sipping without the need for mixers or ice.

Where is Real Matlatl Añejo made? It is produced at a traditional palenque in Santiago Matatlán, Oaxaca, Mexico, situated at approximately 5,440 feet above sea level in the Sierra Madre Oriental Mountains — a region historically recognized as the birthplace of mezcal.

What foods pair well with Real Matlatl Añejo? Mole negro complements the spirit's cinnamon and tobacco notes. Dark chocolate with a high cacao percentage mirrors its vanilla and oak sweetness. Grilled lamb chops echo the mesquite smokiness. Aged Manchego or Oaxacan string cheese (quesillo) matches the buttery texture. Pecan pie aligns with the warm baking-spice profile.

What sizes does Real Matlatl Añejo come in? The standard offering is a 750ml bottle, which is the most widely available format for this expression.

Is Real Matlatl Añejo worth the price? It positions as a premium artisanal mezcal, and the three-year aging period — more than double the añejo minimum — along with the entirely hand-made, no-metal production process justifies its placement above entry-level aged mezcals.

Why Real Matlatl Añejo?

What separates this añejo from most competitors is time. Three years in American oak is exceptionally long for mezcal, where many añejos sit for just over a year. That extended maturation, combined with a production philosophy that forbids metal contact at every stage except the copper still, preserves the essential Espadin agave character while adding unusual depth and complexity from the barrel. Under Don Tacho's oversight, only the finest distillation of each harvest enters the aging program, making each release a curated selection rather than a mass-produced spirit.