Alipús San Juan is an artisanal joven mezcal from San Juan del Río, Oaxaca, produced as part of the Alipús project established by Destilería Los Danzantes to showcase the distinctive terroirs and traditional mezcal-making families of Oaxaca.
Made from 100% Espadín agave (Agave angustifolia), the agave is traditionally roasted in a wood fired conical earth pit, crushed by a horse drawn stone tahona, naturally fermented in wooden vats and then double distilled in small copper stills. The result is a mezcal that puts the character of San Juan del Río front and centre rather than burying it beneath excessive smoke.
At 47,5% ABV, San Juan is full-flavoured and wonderfully expressive: roasted agave and ripe fruit meet citrus, fresh herbs, mineral notes and earthy smoke. There's sweetness here, but also enough acidity and savoury character to keep everything beautifully balanced.
This is the sort of mezcal that makes a strong argument for drinking mezcal neat. Give it a proper glass, a little time and leave the shot glasses for something less interesting.
Tasting Notes
Colour: Crystal clear.
Nose: Roasted agave, caramel and bright citrus, followed by fresh herbs, subtle earthy notes and restrained wood smoke.
Palate: Rich and textured with sweet cooked agave, orange and lemon zest, herbal freshness and pronounced minerality. Smoke builds through the palate without overwhelming the fruit.
Finish: Long, smoky and gently spicy, with lingering mineral, herbal and fruit notes.
Awards & Accolades
94 Points – Wine Enthusiast, 2019. The review highlighted its combination of fruit and smoke, including charred pineapple, citrus and warming spice.
Technical Details
Producer: Alipús / Destilería Los Danzantes Origin: San Juan del Río, Oaxaca, Mexico Classification: Mezcal Artesanal Joven Agave: 100% Espadín (Agave angustifolia) Cooking: Wood-fired conical earth pit Milling: Horse-drawn stone mill / tahona Fermentation: Wooden vats Distillation: Double distilled in copper stills ABV: 47.5% Bottle Size: 750ml
Delivery within South Africa:
All orders are delivered from our central warehouse located in Montague Gardens, Western Cape. Local orders are usually delivered in 0-2 working days. Orders outside of Cape Town but within SA are generally delivered within 2-5 working days. If you require expedited delivery, we now offer an Express delivery service, which typically takes 1-3 working days, depending on your area.
While we strive for timely deliveries, there are occasional instances where delays may occur. These are rare but can happen due to unforeseen circumstances.
Delivery Rates:
At checkout, you will be presented with delivery options and corresponding rates. These rates are provided directly by our courier partners and are displayed as is. On rare occasions, a courier may generate an incorrect delivery rate due to issues with the address recognition. In such cases, we will arrange for an alternative courier to deliver your order at a similar rate to the original cost.
We believe in offering transparency in our delivery fees and, as such, do not include any delivery costs in our product pricing. We do not profit from delivery fees.
Third-Party Couriers:
For the majority of our orders, we rely on third-party courier services for delivery. Regular notifications will be sent and on the day of delivery the couriers will notify you via sms, call or email . If the courier is unable to reach you, we will get in touch with you to arrange an alternative solution.
Please note, you will be required to sign upon delivery, and the drivers may request a form of identification.
If there is something wrong with your product, we will gladly issue a full refund of 100% of your purchase amount. To process this, please reach out to us at info@mothercityliquor.co.za as soon as possible, and we will guide you through the refund process.
Order Cancellations: If you need to cancel your order, simply email us at info@mothercityliquor.co.za, and we’ll assist you with the cancellation process. Please note, cancellations will incur a small fee of 10%, which covers the transaction fees we incur for processing each order. If your order has already been shipped, please be aware that the shipping fee is non-refundable.
Consignment Orders:
We do not offer consignment stock or consignment deals.
Returns:
If you find that there is an issue with your product, you are eligible to return it to us. Here’s how you can initiate the return:
Email us at info@mothercityliquor.co.za to notify us of your intent to return the product. We will then guide you through the process.
Our returns policy is valid for 7 working days from the date of delivery. Unfortunately, if 7 working days have passed since the delivery of your purchase, we cannot offer a refund or exchange.
To be eligible for a return, the item must be unused and in the same condition as when you received it. It must also be in its original packaging. A 10% Fee will be charged on returns, unless the product was damaged or incorrectly supplied by Mothercity Liquor.
Return Shipping & Delivery Fees
Please note that original shipping or delivery fees are non-refundable. Where a refund is approved, the refund will apply to the eligible returned product(s) only and will exclude any shipping or delivery charges paid on the original order.
Unless the return is due to an incorrect, damaged, or defective product supplied by Mothercity Liquor, the cost of returning the product(s) to us is the responsibility of the customer. Customers are responsible for arranging and paying for return shipping and for ensuring that the products are securely packaged to prevent damage in transit.
We strongly recommend using a trackable and insured courier service when returning products. Mothercity Liquor cannot be held responsible for returned goods that are lost or damaged while in transit to us.
Where Mothercity Liquor supplied an incorrect, damaged, or defective product, we will arrange or cover the reasonable cost of returning the affected product, subject to the terms of our Returns Policy.
Exceptions to Returns:
Sale or Special Offer Items: Only regular-priced items are eligible for a refund. Unfortunately, items purchased on sale or as part of a special offer cannot be refunded.
Subscription Terms & Conditions:
By purchasing a Subscription, you agree to recurring automatic payments based on your selected delivery frequency (monthly, every 2 months or every 3 months etc).
Your subscription will automatically renew and your payment method will be charged on the same calendar day as your original purchase until your subscription is cancelled.
Minimum Commitment: Subscription pricing includes a discounted rate and therefore requires a minimum commitment of two (2) deliveries. Cancellation requests will only be accepted after your second subscription box has been successfully delivered.
Cancellation requests must be submitted before your next billing date. If your payment has already been processed, that month's subscription will still be fulfilled and dispatched.
Subscription payments are non-refundable once they have been successfully processed, except where required by applicable South African consumer protection laws.
In the event that a product becomes unavailable, Mothercity Liquor reserves the right to substitute it with a product of equal or greater value.
Customers must be 18 years or older to purchase or receive alcoholic products.
