Discover the inaugural spirit of José, made in collaboration with Koch El Mezcal
Available for purchase at José, select Spec’s and WoodHouse concepts in Texas, Florida and Colorado.
In true José fashion, the restaurant’s first spirit, created in partnership with Koch El Mezcal in Oaxaca, began with a trip to the local market for inspiration. Treats of the season and the region – four local varieties of baby apples and candy-sweet guavas – were thoughtfully paired with two pillars of Oaxacan cuisine, white corn and chile chilhuacle.
These four flavors married the four essential elements of mezcal – agave, water, yeast, and the mezcalero who makes it – to create Cuatro x Cuatro, a bright, complex spirit which reflects the dynamic essence of the restaurant. Two years after the collaboration with Koch began, the team at José is thrilled to share this extraordinary mezcal with the world.
“Part of what makes José so special is our belief and passion for collaborating with artists, chefs, makers and producers to create one-of-a-kind experiences and products. Our Cuatro x Cuatro mezcal, made in partnership with the Koch El Mezcal team, is no exception,” said Brady Wood, the founder and CEO of WoodHouse, which owns and operates José. “Our passion for the seasonal and standout flavors that come from Oaxaca is something we strive to share with all our guests and the broader community — and we’re thrilled to have bottled this up into a product we are so proud of.”
Cuatro x Cuatro was created to be versatile; delicious both poured straight up or mixed into your favorite agave-based cocktail. It has a light smokiness and a slightly fruity finish that makes it a perfect introductory mezcal, while offering a refreshing twist to experienced mezcal lovers.
“You want to use all your senses to taste mezcal,” says José General Manager Victor Rojas, who worked closely with Beverage Director Carlos Marquez, Executive Chef Anastacia Quiñones-Pittman and the team at Koch to make this collaboration come to life. “On the nose, you’re going to get roasted corn coming through and a little bit of chili pepper and roasted agave as well. On the tongue, you’re going to taste apples and guava, and the chili peppers are going to come in on the tip of your tongue and along the edges – that subtle tingling feeling.”
It’s a spirit, and a collaboration, based in harmony. As the largest producer of mezcal in Oaxaca, Koch El Mezcal was a natural, trusted partner to bring this project to life.
“Mezcal is an art that is passed down from generation to generation, so it was very important that we understood not only the process of mezcal, but why they do what they do,” said Victor Rojas, General Manager of José. “We spent many hours in Oaxaca with the Koch El Mezcal team and the local Oaxaca-based experts, whose families have been crafting mezcal for several generations.”
Cuatro x Cuatro is available at José, select Spec’s locations, and other WoodHouse concepts in Texas, Colorado and Florida.
About Koch El Mezcal
Founded in 2009, Koch El Mezcal (Koch) is a pioneer of the single-agave mezcal. Koch is committed to the environment by only using 100 percent sustainable practices, protecting/maintaining the agave population in Mexico, and cultivating the traditions of Oaxaca and its people. The Koch portfolio includes 25 products, made from wild, cultivated, and semi-cultivated agaves. The products express and respect the identity/terroir of each of the producing regions while honoring the traditional way of making mezcal. Koch products are 100 percent hand-made, providing individuals from over 13 local communities and 59 Palenques with fair wages and the opportunity to have a better life. Koch El Mezcal products are available throughout Mexico and in 15 countries around the world.