FaneKantsini: A Mezcal Project Rooted in Community and Tradition (Spanish)
Edgar Carino Edgar Carino

FaneKantsini: A Mezcal Project Rooted in Community and Tradition (Spanish)

More than just a spirit, FaneKantsini represents a powerful model of local empowerment. Sósima and the Tres Colibrí cooperative are redefining what ethical mezcal production looks like, honoring the land, respecting agave’s natural cycles, and ensuring economic benefits stay within the community.

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Sósima Olivera at Marfa Agave Festival
Edgar Carino Edgar Carino

Sósima Olivera at Marfa Agave Festival

At the 2024 Marfa Agave Festival, Maestra Mezcalera Sósima Olivera delivered a powerful message about sustainability, tradition, and the deep cultural roots of mezcal production. Speaking to a passionate audience, Sósima shared the urgent need to protect agave biodiversity and the communities that have safeguarded this ancient spirit for generations.

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FaneKantsini Featured on Forbes
Edgar Carino Edgar Carino

FaneKantsini Featured on Forbes

FaneKantsini Mezcal was recently featured in Forbes in an article highlighting five mezcales to celebrate Guelaguetza 2024, Oaxaca’s most important cultural festival.

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Cultivating Agave
Samuel Piña Villagrana Samuel Piña Villagrana

Cultivating Agave

Our journey begins with the agave—carefully cultivated and nurtured in the biodiverse soils of Oaxaca. Each plant takes anywhere from 7 to 15 years to reach maturity, developing complex sugars and deep flavors that will define the final spirit. The land is respected as a living entity, and for every agave harvested, we plant another to ensure sustainability.

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The Hands That Shape Tradition
Samuel Piña Villagrana Samuel Piña Villagrana

The Hands That Shape Tradition

Once the agave reaches its peak, skilled mezcaleros harvest it using a coa de jima, a specialized blade used to remove the spiky leaves. What remains is the heart of the plant—the piña—rich with natural sugars and flavor potential. This process is labor-intensive and requires deep knowledge of the land and plant cycle

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Fire and Smoke, the Soul of Mezcal
Samuel Piña Villagrana Samuel Piña Villagrana

Fire and Smoke, the Soul of Mezcal

The piñas are slowly roasted in underground conical stone ovens, heated by oak firewood. This step caramelizes the sugars and infuses the agave with smoky complexity. The pit is then covered with earth, and the agave roasts for several days, absorbing the essence of the fire and soil.

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Extracting the Essence
Samuel Piña Villagrana Samuel Piña Villagrana

Extracting the Essence

Once roasted, the agave hearts are crushed using a wooden mallet. This traditional method ensures that only the purest agave fibers release their rich juices. Unlike industrial processes, this hands-on approach preserves the integrity of the plant’s natural flavors.

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The Gift of Time and Nature
Samuel Piña Villagrana Samuel Piña Villagrana

The Gift of Time and Nature

The crushed agave is transferred to wooden fermentation vats, where natural airborne yeast begins its work. This slow, open-air fermentation process can take up to two weeks, allowing the environment to impart its unique terroir into the final spirit. No additives, no shortcuts—only patience and respect for nature.

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Purity in Every Drop
Samuel Piña Villagrana Samuel Piña Villagrana

Purity in Every Drop

The fermented agave mash is carefully distilled in either traditional clay pots or copper stills. Clay pot distillation, a hallmark of Sola de Vega, results in a softer, more mineral-forward profile, while copper stills yield crisp, refined flavors. The result is a mezcal of unparalleled depth—ready to be sipped, savored, and celebrated.

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