Distillery
Sierra Norte
Mexican producer of corn-based whisky from ancestral Oaxaca maize: a single-barrel range that uses local corn varieties (white, amarillo, morado, negro, etc.), matured in French oak casks and produced under the direction of master distiller Douglas French.
- San Agustín de las Juntas · Oaxaca · Mexico
- Since 2014
- 10 products
The story
Douglas French began producing spirits in Oaxaca in 1996. In 2014 he launched the Sierra Norte project to valorize the ancestral corn varieties of the Sierra Norte area (Oaxaca) and in 2016 released the first single-barrel whisky line; production is managed at the San Agustín de las Juntas facility and bottles are distilled and bottled by Scorpion Mezcal S.A. de C.V.
Production philosophy
Highlight native Oaxacan maize and its territorial character, support local agriculture through a seed bank and fair payments to growers, and demonstrate the variability of maize varieties through distinct single-barrel releases.
Territory
Oaxaca region, Mexico — mountainous Sierra Norte area; production in the village of San Agustín de las Juntas.
Awards and recognition
Mentions and recognitions reported: 'Top 20 Whiskies of 2018' and a score of 90 in Whisky Advocate; listed among 'Top non-American whiskies' according to Forbes (as reported in promotional materials).
Production method
Mashing with a typical mash bill of 85% native corn / 15% malted barley; fermentation in stainless steel tanks; double distillation (first in steel stills, second in copper pot stills); aging in individual barrels and single-barrel bottling.
Distillation
Double distillation: first in steel stills (stainless tanks), second in copper pot stills; fermentation in stainless steel tanks; single-barrel bottling.
Ageing
Aging in oak barrels (mainly French oak), minimum declared maturation 2 years; barrels often selected from wine producers (Burgundy/Bordeaux/Napa).
Characteristics
- Type
- Distillery
- City
- San Agustín de las Juntas
- Categories
- Mexican whisky
- heirloom corn whisky
- single-barrel
- sustainable producer
- Raw materials
- native Oaxaca corn (ancestral varieties: white, amarillo, morado, negro, etc.)
- malted barley (about 15%)
- Casks and ageing vessels
- French oak
- ex-red wine casks (from Burgundy/Bordeaux/Napa)
- Representative products
- Whisky Single Barrel 85% Maiz Amarillo 70cl - Sierra Norte
- Whisky Single Barrel 85% Maiz Amarillo NB 70cl - Sierra Norte
- Whisky Single Barrel 85% Maiz Blanco 70cl - Sierra Norte
- Whisky Single Barrel 85% Maiz Blanco NB 70cl - Sierra Norte
- Whisky Single Barrel 85% Maiz Morado 70cl - Sierra Norte
- Whisky Single Barrel 85% Maiz Morado NB 70cl - Sierra Norte
- Whisky Single Barrel 85% Maiz Negro 70cl - Sierra Norte
- Whisky Single Barrel 85% Maiz Negro NB 70cl - Sierra Norte
- Whisky Single Barrel 85% Red 70cl - Sierra Norte
- Whisky Single Barrel Rainbow 70cl - Sierra Norte
What makes it distinctive
- Use of heirloom maize grown in Oaxaca
- Single-barrel bottlings by maize variety
- Commitment to sustainability: seed bank and fair purchasing policies for local growers
- Master Distiller: Douglas French
- Distilled and bottled by Scorpion Mezcal S.A. de C.V. (Oaxaca)
- Declared minimum aging 2 years