A brand new mezcal, Fósforo, will add two spirits to the crowded mezcal market, with gross sales starting on-line on Monday and on cabinets April 18. Each are distilled from the tobalá varietal of the agave plant, a species little recognized to People till just lately and which has change into more and more fashionable amongst mezcal followers. Behind the spirits is Aarón Alva Sánchez, a fourth-generation mezcalero (mezcal maker) in Huehuetlán el Grande, Puebla, who has spent 20 years taming tobalá, an agave plant with a status for being troublesome to domesticate. In a twist, Fósforo is backed not by an actor or musician (as is widespread on this planet of celeb tequilas and mezcals), however by Jim Cramer of “Mad Cash” fame and his spouse, Lisa Detwiler. Fósforo’s two choices are the fruity and grassy Tobalá, and the ashy and vegetal Tobalá Penca, which is aged for one to 3 months in glass carboys with a cooked agave leaf.
Fósforo Tobalá ($90) and Tobalá Penca ($125), fosforomezcal.com/buy.
