Lamata 'Sonora' Lechuguilla (Familia Yepiz)

Lamata Lechuguilla Sonora is produced by Maestro Vinatero Martín Yépiz in Alamo, Sonora using Lechuguilla (Agave bovicornuta). Martín is the brother of the owner of the cattle ranch where this spirit is made. Martín and Ramón Almada have worked together in the same vinata for many years but Martín has been taking the lead on batches as time has passed. Most of the producers in the area are cattle ranchers and distill Bacanora and Lechuguilla as secondary activities. The agaves are cooked in an underground oven, mashed with an axe in a wood canoe, and naturally fermented with added spring water. The result is distilled twice in stainless steel with the final product being adjusted with heads and tails.

Lamata  is the export arm of Nación de las Verdes Matas, a small independent and unregistered mezcal brand created by Luis Loya. Growing up in Chihuahua, Luis developed a passion for exploring remote communities across Northern Mexico, and for their unique and traditional mezcales. Over the years, Luis has built strong relationships with a number of those rural maestros, in states like Sonora, Chihuahua, Durango, Nuevo León, and Tamaulipas, among others.

In 2011, he founded Nación de las Verdes Matas and Lamata, bringing a selection of these under-represented spirits to market. Because the current Denomination of Origen for mezcal does not recognize several of these states and production styles, Luis has chosen not to certify any of them as such. The goal of the project is to preserve the “gusto historico”—the liquid culture, terroir and history—unchanged; to ensure the producers receive an equitable share of the profits; and to educate and broaden the horizons of mezcal consumers by sharing these beautiful spirits.

In order to protect these natural resources from being over exploited, and to keep small scale production methods intact, typical lots range from 40 liters to 200; US releases are extremely limited.