We already covered the basics on puntas back in Vol. 4. You can read them there if you’d like a primer on what that means.

While this is the first batch of puntas from Ageo that we’ve officially released, if you were a supporter of the Green Tape Gang back in 2019, you might have gotten a 200ml holiday gift from us that didn’t have any info on it other than the round “puntas” sticker. Those were the puntas of a madrecuixe batch from Ageo, and if you got to taste them, you’ve got some idea of what’s in store for you here.

Originally 50 liters when we purchased it back in 2018,  Ageo held this batch of puntas for us in the Cortes bodega, letting them mellow in the family’s vintage glass damajuanas as an experiment. Thirsty and impatient, we spent the next five years taking little nips and personal samples, and by the time we were ready to bottle it this fall, there were only 40 liters left. The devil’s share is a real thing.

Tracking the evolution of this batch over the years, the most notable difference is the drop in ABV. Originally, it tested around 62% ABV when it was fresh (VS 56.5% at the time of bottling). In theory, the ABV should stay the same in a perfectly sealed container. In practice, the mouth on the old glass demijohns doesn’t make a perfect seal with its cap, and alcohol escapes while outside air’s humidity sneaks in.  As for the flavors, it seems that the opposite was true. Going from memory, flavors in 2018 weren’t nearly as potent. Strong, yes, but not nearly so well defined as what we have today. What’s in these bottles is almost a puntas bullion - dense, tight and briny.

As it lingers, you get the sense there’s more than than just a density of flavors. It’s loaded with some other, immeasurable weight - the secrets to all of the agaves that went into it. If the world ended, and someone brought a bottle of this to Mars, they could pour some on the sand, and populate the whole planet with madrecuixe, bicuixe, tepextate and coyote.