BANDIDA REPOSADO HAS ARRIVED.

Two decades ago, the idea of ageing Mezcal in barrels was nearly unthinkable—reserved for tequila and whisky alone. Any Maestro Mezcalero, with his / her multi-generational spirit, would have met the notion with disapproval. Yet, time evolves, and so does craftsmanship.

For those new to the agave aging process—“Reposado” means “rested”, and both Tequila and Mezcal can be rested in wooden barrels for 2 to 12 months. “Añejo” translates to “aged”, and Añejos are barrel-aged for 12 months to 3 years.  However; while barrel-ageing is measured in months, true maturity comes from the 11 years our agaves spend growing naturally.

Eric Hernandez, a third-generation Mezcal producer became the first officially certified Mezcalero in 2005.  He also helped with the Illegal Mezcal brand who were one of the first to offer a “Reposado” Mezcal back in 2006.  Illegal also gained notoriety with the slogan “No Celebrities, Just Damn Good Mezcal”.

Since then, more Mezcal brands have followed suit—and why not? Some have pushed the boundaries even further; we ourselves experimented with ageing Bandida Mezcal in red wine casks, Rosé, and even Champagne casks. We envisioned Bandida Champagne or Bandida Rosa as a perfect pairing. But as it turned out, the balance wasn’t quite right. So, we explored a range of French and American oak, refining the process over 2 years until we found the perfect balance. Upon tasting, immediately we knew—this was the first aged Mezcal that truly enhanced the flavour profile, rather than diminishing it.

Bandida Reposado was born. The decanter colour— we wanted a colour that very much represents Mexico and the colours you often see here in Oaxaca. For us, that could only be Terracotta.

Much of Oaxaca’s architectural heritage is based on Terracotta-, or "tierra cocida" meaning “baked earth”.  Used by indigenous Mexican communities for thousands of years, in pottery, ceramics, and construction.  Ancient civilizations such as the Aztecs and Zapotecs crafted terracotta artifacts, sculptures, and ceremonial objects.  Just drive around Oaxaca, and terracotta underpins much of the architecture. It certainly helps that Bandida Reposado’s rich hue itself mirrors the warm, earthy tones of terracotta.

Bandida Reposado begins with agaves grown for 11 years, reaching peak maturity before harvest. They are then rested for six months in American White Oak casks, allowing the wood to refine and elevate their natural character. This process took over two years of meticulous experimentation—exploring different ageing methods and cask materials—to achieve the perfect blend between agave and oak.

Over the past six months, we’ve conducted more than 50 blind tastings. We’ve put Bandida Reposado to the test with suppliers, Oaxacans, friends, family, Mezcaleros, and bar teams in CDMX at many of our client venues—and, the response has been unanimous, matching our own hopes and aspirations.

Bandida Reposado has officially launched in the UK, please contact your distributor.