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Agave variety

Cupreata (Papalote) mezcal

Agave cupreata — Guerrero's wide-leafed wild agave, known locally as papalote, and the backbone of mezcal outside Oaxaca.

Species
Agave cupreata Trel. & A. Berger
Cultivation
Wild and planted
Maturity
8–13 years
Main states
Guerrero, Michoacán
Bottles in catalog
41
Average rating
—

Cupreata grows on steep volcanic slopes in Guerrero and Michoacán, where its broad, curling leaves earned it the name papalote — kite. It is wild in origin, though the Guerrero mezcal movement has planted it heavily since the 2000s.

Guerrero cupreata and Michoacán's version of the same species drink differently thanks to altitude, water and still design, but both share a bright, fruit-forward, distinctly mineral character that stands apart from Oaxacan espadín.

What cupreata tastes like

Green apple, lime, wet clay and a peppery finish, with less overt smoke than many Oaxacan bottles. Michoacán versions often show more floral lift; Guerrero's tend to be earthier and more structured.

Cupreata (Papalote) bottles, rated by the community

41 bottles with photos and documented origin · mostly from Guerrero, Puebla, Oaxaca

Cupreata (Papalote) — frequently asked

What is papalote agave?
Papalote is the local Guerrero name for Agave cupreata, a wild agave with broad curling leaves used for most mezcal made in Guerrero and Michoacán.
How is cupreata mezcal different from espadín?
It is usually brighter and more mineral, with green apple and citrus notes and generally less smoke.

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