Mosto Edición Salvaje Still Strength Blanco

Sometimes going back to your roots doesn’t require moving back.

Brothers Nelson and Paulo Benavides grew up in Jalisco before their lives took them to the United States and into hospitality and craft beverages. Years later, a friendship and partnership with members of Richmond, Virginia’s The Veil Brewing Co. brought them back to Jalisco in a different way—through tequila.

The result of that homecoming is Mosto, a majority Mexican-owned brand whose name points directly to production. “Mosto” is the fermenting agave juice before distillation, when some of tequila’s most important flavors begin to take shape.

To bring their vision to life, they partnered with maestro tequilero Óscar Vázquez Camarena.

Óscar had previously worked as the head chemist at El Pandillo (NOM 1579), but now works as one of the most celebrated up-and-coming maestro tequileros in the industry.

Óscar brings serious technical knowledge and a very easygoing personality to all his projects. Engaging, friendly, and down-to-earth, he oversees Mosto from agave selection through fermentation and distillation, signing off on every batch.

This expression, Edición Salvaje, is produced at Hacienda El Olvido (NOM 1580) in Jesús María.

Mosto is made from six-year-old, estate-grown Blue Weber agaves, which are cooked in brick-and-stone ovens before fermentation and double distillation in copper pot stills. Edición Salvaje is bottled unaged and uncut from the still at 53% ABV.

Edición Salvaje came out with a roar, quickly earning 98 points and Double Gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

Still, the more interesting story began long before the accolades: two brothers from Jalisco, friendships formed in America’s craft-beverage world, and a talented maestro helping turn those experiences into something distinctive and incredibly enjoyable.

Nose: cooked agave / earth / green apple / hint of melon / lime / jasmine / mineral

Taste: bold sweet cooked agave / hint of vanilla / earth / pepper / very mild cinnamon / green apple / lime / hint of orange / hint of anise / spearmint / baking spices / mineral

Finish: medium viscosity coats the palate and delivers an epic amount of lingering sweet cooked agave and pepper / mild cinnamon, green apple, and lime dance across the mid-palate, leaving hints of anise and a clean, enjoyable spearmint finish on the final swallow.

Even at 53% ABV, this expression from Mosto is gentle, approachable, and delicious.

If you are a connoisseur who loves high-proof tequilas, this expression is a must-have for your collection. If you are new to tequila, it is still a good entry point because of its massive flavor and easy-sipping character. I highly recommend it.

More from Mosto: All of our Mosto coverage, including reviews, lists, scores, and more.