THE LOST EXPLORER RESERVADEL MAESTRO TOBASICHE MEZCAL
MEXICO
Folks, you simply have to sip this. And nose it. And sip it again.
It bowled us over in a recent tasting with its phenomenal complexity and depth, and we decided right then and there we had to bring it to you.
Lucky for you, this is the first time that this has been made available anywhere off-premise … which is to say, the first time you can get your hands on a bottle outside the restaurants and bars that are lucky enough to be able to pour it.
There aren’t many mezcals like this in the world, but there also aren't many bottles of this mezcal in the world, period: only 1,200 exist.
Our love for it is deep, but we’re not the only ones. It took home Double Gold at the 2026 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, and — bigger still — The Lost Explorer was named 2025 Agave Producer of the Year at the International Wine & Spirit Competition.
Two well-deserved honors for these small-batch, small-production masters.
To understand why this particular bottling stands, we think, above all others in their portfolio, you have to go back to its roots.
Literally.
The Tobasiche agave belongs to the wild Karwinskii family, and thrives in the rugged, rocky terrain of Oaxaca's Central Valleys. What is true for great wine grapes is true, too, for great agave: poor, stony, difficult soils make for optimal growing conditions.
The struggle of these piñas to produce sugar is legendary, and a challenge to both the grower and producer. It takes an enormous harvest to craft a single liter of juice, making every drop thereby more precious.
Lost Explorer's master Mescalero, Don Fortino Ramos, a 40-year veteran of the craft, uses a precise, shorter cook time to protect the agave's innate aromatics and, in his words, to lock in "the fierce, independent personality this agave brings to the mezcal.” And, to make sure that that character comes through cleanly, and clearly, he also put the agave through a double-distillation.
The result is a masterpiece.
The nose leads with a spray of fresh herbs and bright citrus, opening out to a palate of crisp apple, ripe banana, and sweet pear, with hints, here and there, of lime, grapefruit, and fresh lemon. The finish is marvelously herbaceous and woody, along with a quality that is harder to pinpoint or name, a hint of something ancient, earth-warmed, and mysterious.
We can’t wait for you to take that first nosing, followed by that lingering first sip … there’s only one time for a first time, and we envy anyone who gets to experience this anew.
Secure yours today, folks, and get ready to be dazzled.
*Offer NOT valid in-store. This offer is made pre-arrival, with wines estimated to be delivered to your preferred store in Fall 2026. All sale prices are the lowest available at Total Wine & More and ONLY valid through Concierge Sales. No further discounts or coupons may be applied. The price reflected on your order form is subject to change after the order is placed in the event of a change in tariffs or taxes that are imposed by the U.S. government, or in the case of currency fluctuations of 10% or greater. Offer only valid in CA. This offer will expire on Monday, July 20, 2026.