Eléctrico Mezcal

As a singer, pianist, and songwriter, I went to Oaxaca City to record with my producer, Ronan Chris Murphy, along with local musicians in the historic Teatro Macedonio Alcalá. Relaxing after long sessions, my Oaxaca-born sound engineer Diego Lopéz and his brother Omar introduced me to the culture of mezcal, and on a second trip back, their friend, the Maestro Mezcalero, Cirino.

Cirino has an innate understanding of rhythm and natural balance. He can predict the sugar content and flavor profile of an agave piña just by tapping it. Maestro knows, respects, and tends mountainous landscape in which he was born. He is obsessed with perfecting mezcals that express the richness of his world.

As we sat and sipped at his modest palenque overlooking San Baltazar Guelavila, Cirino described his dream to elevate mezcal to compete with the great spirits of the world.

He wanted to capture the essence of the valley that raised him. He wanted people outside Oaxaca to experience the unique characteristics of the soil, climate, water, altitude, the life story of each plant, each roast, and fermentation that made each distillation an epiphany.

I spoke of my lifelong quest for artistry and inspiration, immersing myself in cultures and rhythms to add depth and energy to my music.

We both found parallels in our histories: struggling to raise families while remaining true to ourselves and our beliefs.

Our minds raced. I wanted to help Cirino share his artistry and vision with the world. Cirino felt he had finally found someone he could trust to help him realize his dream.

La Cantante y el Mezcalero sipped again. We talked. We hugged. Eléctrico Mezcal was born.