The Lost Explorer Espadín is a beautifully approachable introduction to proper artisanal mezcal — smoky enough to remind you what you're drinking, but without tasting like someone set fire to the bar.
Handcrafted in San Pablo Huixtepec in Oaxaca's Valles Centrales, it is made from 100% Espadín agave (Agave angustifolia), with the plants allowed to mature for around eight years before harvesting. Production is overseen by Maestro Mezcalero Don Fortino Ramos, who has spent decades mastering traditional mezcal production.
The result is a sweet, herbaceous and fruit-forward mezcal combining fresh agave, red apple and ripe fruit with mesquite and a restrained layer of smoke. At 42% ABV, there's plenty of flavour without the alcohol overpowering the agave.
Tasting Notes
Colour: Crystal clear.
Nose: Fresh herbs and roasted agave with subtle woodsmoke, earth and gentle floral notes.
Palate: Sweet roasted agave leads into red apple and ripe orchard fruit, followed by fresh herbs, mesquite and an earthy minerality. The smoke remains beautifully controlled rather than dominating the spirit.
Finish: Smooth, warming and gently smoky, with lingering fruit, herbs and smoked wood.
Technical Details
Producer: The Lost Explorer Origin: San Pablo Huixtepec, Oaxaca, Mexico Style: Mezcal Artesanal Joven Agave: 100% Espadín (Agave angustifolia) Agave Age: Approximately 8 years at harvest ABV: 42% Maestro Mezcalero: Don Fortino Ramos Fermentation: Open-top oak barrels with wild yeast Distillation: Double distilled in copper alembic stills Maturation: Unaged Bottle Size: 750ml
The bottle itself is also worth mentioning: it's made in Mexico using recycled crystal scraps, hand-labelled and finished with a natural biodegradable cork and beeswax seal.
Why We Like It
If someone's introduction to mezcal has left them believing that the entire category tastes like tequila that's survived a house fire, pour them this.
The Lost Explorer Espadín is much more nuanced. There's smoke, certainly, but it's sitting alongside fruit, herbs, roasted agave and earthy character rather than steamrolling over everything else.
That makes it a cracking gateway into serious mezcal, while still offering enough complexity for people already well down the agave rabbit hole.
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.
