Reviews / Marca Negra Cupreata
Review · · by The Editors
Marca Negra Cupreata
Marca Negra cupreata – Chilapa at full voice, wide distribution
Score: 4.5/5 agaves
- Producer: Marca Negra Mezcal
- Maestro: Faustino Castro, Lorenzo Gonzalez
- Region: Chilapa de Álvarez, Guerrero
- Agave: Cupreata
- ABV: 48%
- Price: $65 ($)
Verdict
The Barranca brothers' Mal Bien papalote is the reference, but it sells out. Marca Negra cupreata is the shelf-reliable alternative that still drinks like Chilapa – the high-proof cuts (closer to 52%) outperform the low-proof cuts (closer to 48%), but every bottling we've had plays like real cupreata from real mountains. Commit when you find it.
Chilapa cupreata you can actually buy
Tasting notes
Nose: Cooked corn, wildflower, pine sap, hot pepper, warm stone
Palate: 48-52% of Chilapa papalote – Faustino Castro and Lorenzo González deliver a cupreata with enough proof (the batch ABV varies but always lands above 48%) and enough hand to read like the Barranca reference at a shelf you can actually find
Finish: Warm, piney – very long
The bottom line
Commit. Chilapa cupreata at distribution scale