Manojo Mezcal Expands Into Total Wines Across Four Key Markets

info_outline PRESS RELEASE posted by Manojo Mezcal

May. 1, 2025 at 9:18 am

Rolling out in 19 stores across California, Florida, New York, and New Jersey

May 1, 2025 – New York, NY – Manojo Mezcal, the new artisanal mezcal brand co-founded by celebrated Mexican chef Enrique Olvera alongside Alex Ferzan, Nes Rueda, Gonzalo Gout, and Thomas McDonald, is proud to announce its official launch at Total Wines. This spring, Manojo Mezcal will begin rolling out in 19 Total Wines locations across California, Florida, New York, and New Jersey, marking a major milestone in the brand’s U.S. retail expansion.

“We created Manojo to honor the families, the land, and the traditions that make mezcal what it is," says Nes Rueda, co-founder of Manojo Mezcal. "Everything we do is intentional—from the way we produce our mezcal to the way we share its story—and our partnership with Total Wines allows us to bring an authentic, world-class mezcal to more drinkers across the country."

Handcrafted from 100% Espadín agave at a single estate and single palenque, Manojo Mezcal is produced without compromise, maintaining traditional methods from cultivation to distillation. The result is a bright, fresh expression with notes of pear, green herbs, and a crisp minerality—crafted for both sipping and mixing, and offered at an attainable price without sacrificing quality or heritage.

Earlier this year, Manojo earned a prestigious Master Award at The Spirits Business Global Mezcal Masters—the highest accolade granted by the competition’s judges. Reserved for entries scoring 90 points or higher in a blind tasting, the award recognizes Manojo’s exceptional quality, authenticity, and dedication to traditional mezcal-making practices. Produced by maestros Joel Velasco and Felicitas Hernández at a single palenque in Oaxaca, Manojo honors centuries-old methods, including roasting mature Espadín agave in underground pits and crushing the cooked agave with a horse-drawn tahona. The recognition underscores Manojo’s commitment to preserving the integrity, heritage, and spirit of mezcal for a new generation of drinkers.

Manojo Mezcal Espadín Specs

Mezcal Varietal: 100% Espadín
Tasting Notes:

On the nose: Bright and fresh on the nose, this mezcal has notes of pear, and green herbs.
On the palate: Once sipped, the minerality is the driving force with a luminous mid-palate. This mezcal finishes strong, smooth, and crisp.

Use Case: Manojo Espadín is a mezcal meant to be enjoyed as Mexicans do, casually mixed in with a cocktail or sipped on with a slice of orange and sal de gusano or worm salt
ABV: 43%
Price: $49.99

About Manojo Mezcal

Manojo Mezcal is a new mezcal brand co-founded by celebrated Mexican chef Enrique Olvera along with friends and co-founders Alex Ferzan, Gonzalo Gout, Thomas McDonald, and Nes Rueda. The team worked with husband and wife mezcaleros Joel Velasco and Felicitas Hernández in Oaxaca utilizing only Espadín agave to create their first expression - a bright and fresh mezcal that is incredibly versatile with notes of pear, green herbs, an innate minerality, and a crisp finish. The name “Manojo” is a play on words combining the Spanish terms “mano,” meaning hand, and “ojo,” meaning eye. The name also directly translates in English to “a bunch,” which the team interprets to mean abundance - including an abundance of friends and good times fueled by great mezcal.

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