Espadin

According to Hedonistas de las Fe, curanderos are healers “with an evolved consciousness who use herbs, plants, magic, and spiritualism to treat illness, induce visions, and impart traditional wisdom” — people who embody the paradox of life to bridge “the divide between individual joy and the elevation of the collective.” They are  “of the Faith” or in Spanish, de la Fe.

three Hedonistas de la Fe take in the huge surf in Ventura recently

To Hedonistas de las Fe, “Of the Faith” also means making random acts of kindness an everyday experience. Like fostering a dog like I am with Moose wearing my Hedonistas de la Fe hat during beach walk to the Ventura River during the recent high surf. A hedonist or hedonista sees the pursuit of pleasure as possibly the highest purpose in life, so a hedonistas de la Fe also means Hedonists “Of the Faith” — someone who is pursuing pleasure as important while making random acts of kindness. At least tat’s my take on it! 

Hedonistas de la Fe also means a new brand of domesticated and wild Mezcal now available in the US  that will bring you new faith in fermented agave. 

That’s right! After all these definitions we’re getting down to the nitty gritty–three of Hedonistas de la Fe mezcal are made from WILD AGAVE harvested from three kinds of agave growing wild in the the Matatlan countryside:

“from the long-growing Tepeztate found on rugged cliff-sides in the Oaxacan highlands, to the tall and tubular Cuishe, to the wide-leafed Tobala.” When they are near the end of their natural life cycle and full of agave sugars, jimadors harvest the wild agave using a coa, or machete. Experienced mezcalero use great care when trimming the spines because if they cut too much, the mezcal lacks flavor, and if they don’t cut enough, a waxy coating on the spines makes the mezcal bitter. Hedonistas de la Fe makes their mezcals following 500 year old traditions in partnership with Mezcal Santa Maria and Gerardo “Kaín” Santiago Hernandez, a fourth-generation  Maestro Mezcalero raised in Matatlan, Oaxaca. 

Until recently, the mezcal of the Santiago Family was only available in Mexico.

But once Bhalin Singh and Jim Beaubien found this multi-generational, family-run distillery and sampled Kain’s mezcals, they formed an exclusive partnership between Hedonistas de la Fe and the Santiago family. 

I have long had a passion for Mezcal, so given the opportunity to sample these I said YES please. The little tiny 50 ml bottles made it difficult for Sue and I to taste, make a cocktail, and pair them. When Sue suggested barbacoa, I loved the idea… so we went for it! 

 Not only were the cocktails superb, but they are great for winter– the smokiness makes them feel you’re sitting all cozy by the fire. 

And if you are looking for a special gift, consider one of these exceptional tequilas. (Hint: Valentine’s Day is not that far away!)