Montelobos
Iván Saldaña's organic, agronomy-led take on Oaxacan mezcal.
- Region
- Santiago Matatlán, Oaxaca
- Country
- Mexico
- Founded
- 2012
- Agaves
- Espadín, Tobalá, Ensamble
- ABV range
- 43% – 47.9%
- Styles
- Blend, Joven, Pechuga
- Community reviews
- 324
Montelobos was created by agave biologist Iván Saldaña with mezcalero Don Abel López Mateos in Santiago Matatlán. The founding idea was agronomic rather than nostalgic: use certified organic agave, control maturity tightly, and produce a mezcal with reliable herbal intensity.
The flagship Espadín is roasted in a conical stone oven, fermented in open wood with wild yeast, and double distilled in copper at 43.2% ABV — a proof point chosen for cocktails as much as sipping.
The range has since widened to Tobalá, an Ensamble and a Pechuga, but the Espadín remains the reference bottle and one of the most consistently recommended entry mezcals in the category.
What Montelobos is known for
Certified organic agave, a science-forward production approach, and an espadín that punches well above its price for both mixing and sipping.
Where to start in the range
Espadín, without question. Move to the Ensamble for added complexity or Tobalá when you want the wild-agave expression.
House tasting profile
Recurring notes across Montelobos's bottles in the catalog.
Aroma
Palate
Review highlights
Best-rated Montelobos bottles by community score.
Bottles from Montelobos
Montelobos Mezcal
Montelobos Ensamble
3.3(156)
Montelobos Mezcal
Montelobos Espadin
3.6(42)
Montelobos Mezcal
Montelobos Pechuga
3.6(42)
Montelobos Mezcal
Montelobos Tobala
3.6(42)
Montelobos — frequently asked
- Is Montelobos organic?
- Yes — the agave used for Montelobos is certified organic.
- What proof is Montelobos Espadín?
- It is bottled at 43.2% ABV, chosen to hold up in cocktails without losing agave character neat.