Our History
La Cantante y el Mezcalero
Singer, pianist, and composer Kathleen Blackwell had come to Oaxaca City to record with local musicians in the historic Teatro Macedonio Alcalá. Relaxing after long sessions, her Oaxaca-born sound engineer Diego Lopéz and his brother Omar introduced Kathleen to the culture of mezcal and their friend, the Maestro Mezcalero, Cirino.
Maestro Cirino has an innate understanding of his world's rhythm and natural balance. He can predict the sugar content and flavor profile of an agave piña just by tapping it. He knows, respects, and tends the mountainous landscape in which he was born. He is obsessed with perfecting mezcals that express the richness of his world.
As they sat and sipped at his modest palenque overlooking San Baltazar Guelavila, Master Cirino described his dream to elevate mezcal to compete with the world's great spirits.
He wanted to capture the essence of the valley that raised him. He wanted people outside Oaxaca to experience the unique characteristics of the soil, climate, water, and altitude and the life story of each plant, roast, and fermentation, making each distillation an epiphany.
Kathleen talked of her lifelong quest for artistry and inspiration, immersing herself in cultures and rhythms to add depth and energy to her music with her producer, Ronan Chris Murphy.
The two found parallels in their histories: struggling to raise their families while remaining true to themselves and their beliefs.
Their minds raced. Kathleen wanted to help Cirino share his artistry and vision with the world. Cirino felt he had finally found someone he could trust to help him realize his dream.
La Cantante y el Mezcalero sipped again. They talked. They hugged. Eléctrico Mezcal was born.
Tres familias en una
Mezcal…truly artisanal mezcal…is a family tradition. Every palenque and every family that runs it is one of a kind, and individuality pervades each mezcal brand.
Eléctrico Mezcal’s family is most definitely unusual.
We are three families brought together by mezcal, music, and opportunity.
Over the years, the families of Kathleen Blackwell, Manuel Antonio Cirino, and the late Diego Lopez have developed a deep bond that goes way beyond mere business. We are tres familias en una: three families in one.
The Eléctrico Mezcal family
Jackie, our 4th generation mezcalera
Our home is San Baltazar Guelavila in the mountains of Oaxaca, Mexico, while we are also from Austin, TX, Los Angeles, CA, and even Wiltshire, UK.
We are united by friendship, family, and the same passion: to share the ancient tradition of pure, clean, slow-sipping artisanal mezcal with a world in too much of a hurry.
Like us, Eléctrico Mezcal is unique.
Salud!
