Edgar Carino Edgar Carino

FaneKantsini Featured on Forbes

FaneKantsini Mezcal was recently featured in Forbes in an article highlighting five mezcales to celebrate Guelaguetza 2024, Oaxaca’s most important cultural festival.

Written by drinks writer Paul Caputo, the article celebrates mezcal producers who are preserving tradition and showcasing the diversity of agave spirits. FaneKantsini, led by Maestra Mezcalera Sosima Olivera, was recognized for its dedication to ancestral production methods and its connection to the Chontal region of Oaxaca.

This recognition is a meaningful step in our mission to share small-batch, traditionally made mezcal with new audiences, while supporting the communities and landscapes that make it possible.

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Edgar Carino Edgar Carino

FaneKantsini Featured on Mezcalistas

We’re honored to see FaneKantsini highlighted in Mezcalistas, one of the most respected voices in the mezcal community.

The article explores the incredible work of Maestra Mezcalera Sósima Olivera and the Tres Colibrí co-op in the Chontal region of Oaxaca — a remote and culturally rich area known for its deep mezcal traditions.

FaneKantsini represents a mezcal project rooted in community, respect for the land, and ancestral production methods — including clay pot distillation (destilado en barro), a fragile but beautiful process that produces a unique texture and flavor.

At Premium Agave Imports, we’re proud to be working alongside Sósima to bring these mezcales to the US — supporting independent producers while sharing the stories and flavors of this special region.

You can read the full article on Mezcalistas here.

Explore our current selection of FaneKantsini mezcales — Espadín Ancestral (clay distilled), Tobalá, and Chato — available now in our shop.

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Cultivating the Agave</span>
Samuel Piña Villagrana Samuel Piña Villagrana

Cultivating the Agave

Our journey begins with the agave—carefully cultivated and nurtured in the biodiverse soils of Oaxaca. Each plant takes anywhere from 7 to 15 years to reach maturity, developing complex sugars and deep flavors that will define the final spirit. The land is respected as a living entity, and for every agave harvested, we plant another to ensure sustainability.

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The Hands That Shape Tradition</span>
Samuel Piña Villagrana Samuel Piña Villagrana

The Hands That Shape Tradition

Once the agave reaches its peak, skilled mezcaleros harvest it using a coa de jima, a specialized blade used to remove the spiky leaves. What remains is the heart of the plant—the piña—rich with natural sugars and flavor potential. This process is labor-intensive and requires deep knowledge of the land and plant cycle

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Fire and Smoke, the Soul of Mezcal
Samuel Piña Villagrana Samuel Piña Villagrana

Fire and Smoke, the Soul of Mezcal

The piñas are slowly roasted in underground conical stone ovens, heated by oak firewood. This step caramelizes the sugars and infuses the agave with smoky complexity. The pit is then covered with earth, and the agave roasts for several days, absorbing the essence of the fire and soil.

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Extracting the Essence</span>
Samuel Piña Villagrana Samuel Piña Villagrana

Extracting the Essence

Once roasted, the agave hearts are crushed using a wooden mallet. This traditional method ensures that only the purest agave fibers release their rich juices. Unlike industrial processes, this hands-on approach preserves the integrity of the plant’s natural flavors.

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The Gift of Time and Nature</span>
Samuel Piña Villagrana Samuel Piña Villagrana

The Gift of Time and Nature

The crushed agave is transferred to wooden fermentation vats, where natural airborne yeast begins its work. This slow, open-air fermentation process can take up to two weeks, allowing the environment to impart its unique terroir into the final spirit. No additives, no shortcuts—only patience and respect for nature.

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Purity in Every Drop</span>
Samuel Piña Villagrana Samuel Piña Villagrana

Purity in Every Drop

The fermented agave mash is carefully distilled in either traditional clay pots or copper stills. Clay pot distillation, a hallmark of Sola de Vega, results in a softer, more mineral-forward profile, while copper stills yield crisp, refined flavors. The result is a mezcal of unparalleled depth—ready to be sipped, savored, and celebrated.

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