Pal' Alma Iguana y Mole Destilado de Agave – 126 Proof (63% ABV) | 750ml

Exceptionally rare, intensely traditional, and bottled at an extraordinary 63% ABV (126 proof), Pal' Alma Iguana y Mole Destilado de Agave is produced in Puebla, Mexico, by Maestro Asunción Matilde Vargas from Espadilla agave. This distinctive expression incorporates iguana and mole during distillation, bringing a deeply regional element to an already highly artisanal production process. With a batch consisting of only 24 bottles, this is an exceptionally limited Pal' Alma release.

Process & Production

Pal' Alma Iguana y Mole is produced in the state of Puebla, Mexico, by Maestro Asunción Matilde Vargas using Espadilla agave.

The agave is cooked in a conical earthen pit oven built into the ground, translated from “horno cónico de tierra al piso.”

After cooking, the agave is processed using a ground-level canoe-style trough and an axe (“canoa de tierra y hacha”), maintaining the highly manual production methods associated with this expression.

Fermentation occurs naturally with wild yeasts in a ground-level stone fermentation vessel (“levaduras silvestres en pila de piedra al piso”). Both natural spring water (manantial) and well water (pozo) are used during production.

The fermented agave then undergoes double distillation in a traditional clay pot still fitted with a palo blanco wood component. For this particular expression, iguana and mole are incorporated during the distillation process, distinguishing it from a conventional Espadilla agave distillate.

The finished spirit is bottled at an exceptionally high 63% ABV (126 proof).

Appearance

Crystal clear and brilliant, despite the distinctive ingredients incorporated during distillation, with the presentation placing the focus on the Espadilla agave and traditional production process.

Tasting Notes

Nose: Concentrated cooked agave with deep earthy and savory aromas, accompanied by minerals, roasted character, herbs, spice, and fermentation-driven complexity.

Palate: Powerful and full-bodied with roasted agave, earth, minerals, herbs, and savory spice. The mole component contributes another dimension to the spirit's complex profile, while the extraordinary 126-proof strength provides substantial intensity and structure.

Finish: Exceptionally long and warming with lingering agave, earth, minerals, savory character, herbs, and spice.

What Makes It Special

The defining feature of Pal' Alma Iguana y Mole is the incorporation of iguana and mole during distillation. Rather than being additions made to the finished spirit, the bottle's production information identifies them as part of the distillation itself.

Mole is a broad family of traditional Mexican preparations known for combining numerous ingredients and layers of flavor, which can include chiles, spices, seeds, herbs, and other ingredients depending on the particular recipe.

The use of iguana makes this an especially unusual regional production. Combined with the mole, it reflects the highly localized character that can distinguish traditional Mexican agave distillates from standardized commercial tequila and mezcal production.

The underlying process is equally distinctive: Espadilla agave is cooked underground, processed with an axe and canoe-style trough, naturally fermented with wild yeasts in stone, and double distilled in a clay pot still with palo blanco wood.

Adding to its rarity, this particular batch yielded only 24 bottles, each bottled at an imposing 63% ABV (126 proof).

How to Enjoy

Best approached neat in a copita or traditional agave-spirit tasting glass and in small pours. At 126 proof, allowing the spirit ample time to rest after pouring can help its aromas develop before tasting.

Slow tasting is particularly appropriate for an expression of this strength and rarity, allowing the Espadilla agave, wild fermentation, mineral character, savory components, and mole-influenced complexity to emerge gradually.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the alcohol content of Pal' Alma Iguana y Mole?
It is bottled at 63% ABV (126 proof).

What type of agave is used?
This expression is produced from Espadilla agave.

Who is the master distiller?
The master distiller is Asunción Matilde Vargas.

Where is it produced?
It is produced in the state of Puebla, Mexico.

What makes this expression unusual?
According to the production information on the bottle, iguana and mole are incorporated during the distillation process.

How is the agave cooked?
The production information describes a conical earthen pit oven built into the ground.

How is the cooked agave processed?
It is processed using a canoe-style trough and axe.

How is it fermented?
It undergoes natural fermentation with wild yeasts in a ground-level stone vessel.

What type of water is used?
Production uses both natural spring water and well water.

How is Pal' Alma Iguana y Mole distilled?
It undergoes double distillation in a clay pot still with a palo blanco wood component, with iguana and mole incorporated during the process.

How limited is this release?
This particular batch consists of only 24 bottles.

What is the bottle size?
This expression comes in a 750ml bottle.

Pricing & Availability

This listing includes one 750ml bottle of Pal' Alma Iguana y Mole Destilado de Agave, produced from Espadilla agave by Maestro Asunción Matilde Vargas in Puebla and bottled at 126 proof (63% ABV) as part of a batch of only 24 bottles. Available now on our website while supplies last.

Brand Story

Pal' Alma focuses on traditional Mexican agave distillates that preserve the identities of individual maestros, regional agaves, ingredients, and localized production techniques. Each bottling documents a particular production rather than attempting to make every release conform to the same standardized profile.

Iguana y Mole is an especially unusual example of that philosophy. Maestro Asunción Matilde Vargas combines Espadilla agave with underground earthen cooking, manual axe processing, wild fermentation in stone, and traditional clay-pot distillation in Puebla. The incorporation of iguana and mole during distillation, combined with an exceptionally high 126-proof bottling strength and a production of just 24 bottles, makes this a remarkably distinctive Pal' Alma release.