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He is also sometimes characterized as mulato pardo
is defined as a person of half Native American and half African descent
Lacking manpower to consolidate control over all of the region after his victories
he turned increasingly to guerrilla tactics
only so long as it moved from place to place under the protection of Morelos’s nomadic army
royalist forces caught up with the insurgents
but Morelos fought a rearguard action allowing most of the revolutionary government to escape
16 commemorates the famous cry for Mexico’s independence from Spain
it is important to remember that Texas was part of Spain in 1810 and that the “grito” reverberated through what is now the Lone Star State as well
The role of the Africans in Mexico’s quest to stop three centuries of Spanish rule is a little known story but one that deserves attention
The Spanish relied on slavery to expand their empire and to increase their wealth
African slaves were brought to Mexico to toil in sugar fields and work in silver mines
but between 200,000 and 500,000 slaves were brought to Mexico during the colonial expansion
After the cry for independence from Spain by the rogue priest Father Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla on Sept
1810, Spain’s worst nightmares became reality
The first to respond to Hidalgo’s plea were the enslaved indigenous blacks (Afro-Mexicanos) and many liberal creoles (Spaniards born in Mexico)
During the Mexican War of Independence (1810-1821)
it is estimated that 30 percent to 40 percent of the rebel army was comprised of mixed-race Mexicans or blacks
As Hidalgo and his rag-tag army of 80,000 Indians
and Spanish Army deserters marched toward Mexico City, they were successful in every encounter mainly because of their huge numbers
Unfortunately as the revolutionary army approached Mexico City, Hidalgo would not allow them to enter and turned back
a spirit of cooperation between enslaved indigenous
This would actually lead to the election of a black as president of Mexico in 1829
Hidalgo would meet the black priest José María Morelos y Pavón
Morelos would be given an assignment by Hidalgo to go south to Michoacan and to recruit an army
As the rebel army retreated from Mexico City an explosion killed thousands
As Hidalgo tried to flee with the remnants of his army
he would be captured and executed on July 30
leaving the revolution in the hands of the black priest José María Morelos y Pavón
Morelos would meet an officer named Vicente Guerrero
Guerrero quickly earned promotions for his leadership and bravery
Now it was two Mexicans with African heritage — two blacks — who were leading the Mexican Revolution against Spain
would continue to excel and would win victory after victory and in 1818
he was named General-in-chief of the Army of the South
The revolution would rage on for another six years now in the hands of the black general
the political winds of change would bring a different climate to Spain, causing the Spanish Royalist General Agustín de Iturbide to switch sides
Iturbide sent word to Guerrero to bring his army north and to join him
He told Guerrero he had seen the errors of his ways and was now fighting for the independence of Mexico
Guerrero was no fool and had no faith in Iturbide
Guerrero would wait and continue with his own war in the south
Guerrero’s own father was sent with a message from Iturbide that his intentions were honorable and he should come and join him in the revolution
There is now a saying in Mexico where Guerrero responds to his father
“Mi patria antes que mi padre,” or “My country before my father.” That saying is now the official motto of Guerrero, Mexico
Guerrero and Iturbide would finally force the Spanish government to sign the Treaty of Cordoba
Iturbide and Guerrero had vowed liberty and freedom for all and in 1821 agreed on The Plan of Iguala
which established three central principles for the nascent Mexican state: the primacy of Roman Catholicism
the absolute political independence of Mexico
and full social equality for all social and ethnic groups in the new country
Iturbide and Spanish Viceroy Juan O'Donojú signed the Treaty of Córdoba in Córdoba
and Mexico finally had its independence from Spain
Iturbide crowned himself emperor — declaring himself Agustín I — and would cause yet another struggle between the liberals and the conservatives
Iturbide was exiled from Mexico and a democratic form of government finally took place
It would not be until under the administration of the black President Vicente Guerrero in 1829 that Mexico officially abolished slavery forever
Vicente Guerrero and José María Morelos y Pavón — two men of African descent (Afro-Mexicanos) — played a crucial role in the development of the new country of Mexico
Dan Arrellano is a Tejano author and historian from San Antonio and founder of the Battle of Medina Society
He is an adviser to the Tejano Civil Rights Museum and Resource Center in Corpus Christi
professor at Texas A&M University-Kingsville
SK recently announced the limited-edition Generalissimo Jose M
Morelos Colt 1911—the third edition in its Mexican War of Independence series—following the success of The Emperor and Premier Presidente
He led the Mexican War of Independence movement
assuming his leadership after the execution of Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla in 1811
Morelos was one of the first true Mexican nationalists and had a vision of a unified
Each pistol will include a special engraved edition number
The firearm sports intricate engravings on both sides
depicting the 1810 Mexican Independence Coat of Arms
the Congress of Chilpancingo on the day of signing the Solemn Act of the Declaration of Independence of North America and the first Mexican legal historical document which established the separation of Mexico from Spanish rule
The right side of the firearm is adorned with the Coat of Arms of Morelos along with a depiction of when Hidalgo summoned Morelos to join him shortly after his “Grito de Dolores” (Cry of Delores) starting the revolt for Mexico’s Independence
the top of the slide presents a portrait of Generalissimo Morelos and an illustration of the equestrian statue of José María Morelos located in the city of Guadalajara
barrel and hardware are all highly polished with .999 silver plating in select areas
This historical masterpiece is made complete with Kirinite grips presenting the silver emblem of the iconic Rampant Colt
Morelos pistol is a must-have for any firearms collector or enthusiast
“We’re thrilled to announce this limited-edition production run of only 200 full-sized Government Model Colt 1911 chambered in .38 Super and give collectors a chance to own a piece of Mexican history,” Simon Khiabani
Learn more at skguns.com
Team Remington’s Madison Sharpe and Todd Hitch claim Main Event High Over All titles at 2025 U.S
Magpul allows customizable sight picture selection by adding a hooded front sight variant to its MBUS Pro sight
A short history of Winter Olympic Biathlon competition from 1960 to 1976
Highlights from the May 2025 issue of Shooting Sports USA
Here’s a look at each product in the new MDT Nanoguard lineup
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Sophia Waterfield is a reporter for Newsweek based at its London bureau
She has written for publications such as Metro UK
and has covered topics such as business technology
Sophia graduated from the University for the Creative Arts in 2010 where she studied journalism
You can contact her on s.waterfield@newsweek.com
either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter
or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources
Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content
and is an annual celebration of the start of Mexico's War for Independence
Newsweek takes a look at the history behind the day
famous quotes and where the best places are to party
According to Encyclopaedia Britannica
following the invasion of Spain by Napoleon I in 1808
many Mexicans formed secret societies to either to support King Ferdinand VII or for Mexico's independence from Spain
A catholic priest called Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla (Hidalgo) was one of the supporters for independence in San Miguel (now San Miguel de Allende)
Following the reveal of a plot and the arrest of several members of a pro-independence group
Hidalgo rang the church bell in Dolores to call his parishioners to revolt against the Spanish and for racial equality and redistribution of the land
This is known as the Grito de Dolores (Cry of Dolores)
Hidalgo's act cemented him as the father of Mexican independence as well as his capture of the city of Guanajuato and other major cities west of Mexico City
he failed to capture the capital and his followers dispersed
resulting in the priest fleeing north of the country
Hidalgo is celebrated as a martyr to the cause of Mexico's independence from Spain and the Grito de Dolores is celebrated as Mexico's Independence Day
Las Vegas is pulling out all the stops for Mexican Independence Day
with Latino acts taking to the city's venues to perform
also has a selection of events for Mexican Independence Day called Fiestas Patrias 2019
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground
Newsletters in your inbox See all
This month, SK Customs announced the release of the limited-edition Generalissimo Jose M. Morelos Colt 1911 — the third edition of its Mexican War of Independence series. The release follows the success of The Emperor and Premier Presidente
The limited-edition production run of only 200 full-size Government Model Colt 1911s chambered in .38 Super gives collectors a chance to own a piece of Mexican history
The firearm features intricate engravings on both sides
The right side of the firearm is adorned with the Coat of Arms of Morelos along with a depiction of when Hidalgo summoned Morelos to join him shortly after his “Grito de Dolores” (Cry of Delores)
starting the revolt for Mexico’s Independence
The top of the slide presents a portrait of Generalissimo Morelos and an illustration of the equestrian statue of José María Morelos located in the city of Guadalajara
barrel and hardware are all highly polished and feature .999 silver plating in select areas
It’s made complete with Kirinite grips presenting the silver emblem of the iconic Rampant Colt
To learn more about the limited-edition Generalissimo Jose M. Morelos Colt 1911, visit skguns.com
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Mexico (CNS) — Jesus never sends anyone out as a hitman
but calls Christians to be his disciples and friends
Juan Diego,” to whom Our Lady of Guadalupe appeared
he told tens of thousands of young people at Morelia’s José María Pavón Stadium Feb
Dozens of young people carried flags representing every diocese of Mexico present in the packed stadium or watching on big screens set up in a field outside
The pope not only greeted those present in Morelia but also thousands of Mexican youths following the event live from Guadalajara
Echoing his words to government authorities earlier in the week
the pope reminded the youths that they are the wealth of Mexico and of the Church
“A mountain can have rich minerals that will serve humanity’s progress; that is its wealth
But it only turns into wealth when the miners who take out the minerals work on it
and you must be transformed into hope,” the pope said
in one of several departures from his prepared speech
Pope Francis recognized the difficulties of recognizing one’s value when material wealth
fashion and prestige become symbols of one’s worth
“The biggest threat is when a person feels that they must have money to buy everything
The biggest threat is to believe that by having a big car you will be happy,” he said
The pope said belief in Jesus is a sure source of hope and can help youths fight back against the influence of drug dealers “or others who do nothing but sow destruction and death.”
“It is Jesus Christ who refutes all attempts to render you useless or to be mere mercenaries of other people’s ambitions,” he said
Jesus is the one word of hope that can help young people live fully and do their best for their friends
While faith may not give them “the latest car model” or “pockets filled with money,” it brings the experience of being loved
the pope recalled a song often sung by mountain climbers
The young can be certain that Jesus will always stretch out a hand to help them up
Sometimes He “sends you a brother or sister to speak to you and help you
Don’t tell Him: ‘Don’t look at me because I’m all dirty
don’t look at me because I have no hope.’ Just reach out your hand and hold onto His.”
a young Christian must “stretch out your hand” to help others in Jesus’ name
they’ll start stretching out their hand and you will help them in Jesus’ name
But if you go in one shot and start preaching — and hitting them over and over — you leave the poor guy worse than he was before,” he said
Pope Francis urged young Mexicans to remember: “You are the wealth of this country
who destroys all efforts to make you useless or mere instruments of other people’s ambitions.”
A preschool in Chiapas might be questioning its luck after a lottery win brought a shooting and death threats to the community
forcing local people to abandon their homes and travel to a nearby town to protest
The José María Morelos y Pavón preschool in the Tzeltal community of El Nacimiento, Chiapas, won a 20-million-peso (about US $940,000) prize in the presidential airplane lottery on September 15
began planning how to spend the winnings on upgrades to the school
But the small fortune attracted the unwanted attention of a gang called Los Petules
who demanded that the parents spend the money on guns to attack villagers from the neighboring community of El Carrizal
They refused and spent part of the money on a new roof for the school
The parents decided to use the remaining 14 million pesos for public works projects in the community
Los Petules put out death threats against four people connected to the school
and one local resident was shot in the stomach
The situation escalated further in October when the gang reportedly attacked women and children in the village
About 28 Tzeltal families traveled to San Cristóbal de las Casas
to complain that they were forced out of the community
The families demanded that members of Los Petules be disarmed so they could safely return to El Nacimiento to tend to their lands and cattle
One member of the parents’ association said the community had lost “cattle
Los Petules were accused of attacking the bases of militant groups that control large parts of Chiapas
the Zapatista Army of National Liberation (EZLN) and the National Front of Struggle for Socialism (FNLS)
With reports from El Universal and BBC
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The Fiery Sermon that Launched a Revolution
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Print Reporting from Mexico City — Mexico’s presidential plane — a luxurious Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner outfitted with flat-screen monitors
sleeping quarters and a shower — left for California on Monday
purchased by Mexico in 2012 for $218.7 million
a high-profile casualty of the leftist president’s pledges to slash official expenditures
“I will not enter the presidential plane,” Lopez Obrador vowed repeatedly during the campaign
which was marked by his populist pledge for a more austere governing style and an end to long-entrenched corruption
the presidential aircraft was converted from a lavish conveyance to an ostentatious symbol of excess tied to the “mafia of power” — the elite clique that the president says has ruled Mexico for decades
“My face would fill with shame … to get into such a luxurious plane in a country with so much poverty,” Lopez Obrador declared
The plane was used to ferry Lopez Obrador’s predecessor
Lopez Obrador flew commercial on Sunday to the Gulf state of Veracruz
posing on the tarmac for snapshots with the captain and crew
The Mexican media ran photos of Lopez Obrador checking in at the airport like any passenger
accompanied by aides and a discreet security contingent
“We are going to sell all the planes and helicopters that the corrupt politicians used,” he said Sunday in Xalapa
Accounts of official graft in Mexico inevitably involved episodes of crooked politicians — prominent among them thuggish former Veracruz Gov
now serving a nine-year prison term for corruption — gallivanting about on official aircraft on vacations and shopping sprees
Mexico’s new government has announced plans to sell off a flotilla of some 60 official airplanes and 70 helicopters
took off Monday on what officials said would be its final departure from Mexico City’s Benito Juarez International Airport
Its destination was the Southern California Logistics Airport in Victorville
an aeronautics hub on the site of the former George Air Force Base in the Mojave Desert
The official government Facebook page proclaimed the development with a kind of celebratory
employing breathless verbiage suited to the real estate postings of movie stars’ Hollywood mansions
“It’s going to California and is being put on sale!” the government declared
describing the “type” of plane as “presidential,” “very luxurious” and “semi-new.”
Accompanying the posting were images of the twin-engine jet in its hangar and close-ups of some of its amenities — capacious cushioned seats
a king-size bed and an expansive commode with what appeared to be a marble-topped washstand next to it
A Mexican Air Force crew flew the jet to California
Proceeds from the prospective sale of the presidential plane and other aircraft will go toward “social development,” said Lopez Obrador
New Deal-style program of infrastructure construction
grants and scholarships during his inaugural address
It remains unclear how much Mexico will fetch for the already depreciated plane
whether it will need extensive retrofitting and how long it will take to sell it — while the government pays for hangar rental in the United States
A government-commissioned assessment in 2016 that backed keeping the jet estimated that the aircraft could lose 30% to 60% of its value if sold
Some question whether the whole exercise is more of a public relations episode than a cost-saver
“I don’t understand,” wrote Alejandro Hope
“Why not leave it in its [Mexican] hanger where there is no rent?”
Sending the plane to California for evaluation and sale will “maximize the value” of the aircraft
Lopez Obrador has also relinquished another perk of presidential power: Los Pinos
the sprawling presidential compound in the wooded Chapultepec parkland west of downtown
The gates of the formerly heavily guarded presidential residence were thrown open to the public last weekend
The new president has said he intends to remain at his private home in a middle-class district of the capital for now but will eventually move to an apartment in the National Palace in downtown Mexico City
Lopez Obrador said that the official residence at Los Pinos sent off “bad vibes” and was “haunted” and would be turned into a public space for art exhibitions and performances
Cecilia Sanchez of The Times’ Mexico City bureau contributed to this article
patrick.mcdonnell@latimes.com
Twitter: @PmcdonnellLAT
Foreign correspondent Patrick J. McDonnell is the Los Angeles Times Mexico City bureau chief and previously headed Times bureaus in Beirut, Buenos Aires and Baghdad. A native of the Bronx, McDonnell is a graduate of Columbia’s Graduate School of Journalism and was a Nieman fellow at Harvard.
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since it was built to transport a head of state
The president-elect of Mexico doesn't want it
"It's not just efficient and modern," President-elect Andrés Manuel López Obrador
If you set it up like a passenger jet you could fit 280 people
López Obrador ran for office as a leftist populist who said he'd crack down on corruption and slash his own salary — while also capping other public officials' pay and eliminating perks of government employment
purchased by his predecessors for a pricey $218 million
As he approaches his inauguration in December
López Obrador has decided to sell — or rent out — a whole slew of airplanes and helicopters owned by the federal government
"We aren't going to use this fleet," he stated firmly in August
The profits from selling or leasing out the planes and helicopters would be directed to social programs
López Obrador asked the gathered journalists to help him get the word out to potential buyers
which is called the "Jose Maria Morelos y Pavón."
And you'd be traveling on a very important airplane
the usefulness of the plane: It's the fame."
He did add the caveat that it would cost about 500 million pesos — some $25 million — to maintain the plane each year
Possibly remembering that the crowd of journalists were unlikely to be footing that bill
López Obrador asked them to spread the word
so it travels all around the world," he said
"There may be people who are interested."
the Mexican government emphasized that a presidential plane is important not just for the safety of the president
but for efficient transportation of the press corps that travels with him
But López Obrador has been adamant that it's an unnecessary luxury
Frequent fliers will not be surprised to hear that it's already proven inconvenient
he spent hours grounded on a commercial jet delayed by weather — ultimately
he spent four hours waiting for a one-hour flight
"Official flights can also be delayed by bad weather," the wire service notes
"but they have priority to land when the weather clears."
"I'm not going to change my mind because of this
I'm never getting on the presidential plane," López Obrador said at the airport
"I'd die of shame to use such a luxurious plane in a country with so much poverty." [Copyright 2018 NPR]
nonprofit news organization that produces award-winning journalism
In a fiery speech to Mexico’s young people in Morelia
Pope Francis hit hard against the drug cartels that exploit and destroy their lives
Jesus “would never ask us to be assassins,” and he “would never send us to death”; on the contrary
Francis spoke to 50,000 of young people at an extraordinarily colorful
festive rally at the “Jose Maria Morelos y Pavon” stadium in Morelia
They had come from every one of the 32 states of Mexico for this event
and they celebrated this precious moment with him
They had come to witness the first-ever papal visit to Morelia
the capital city of the state of Michoacán
They and Pope Francis know that in both this city and state five drug cartels have wreaked havoc on the lives of the young
and indeed of the whole society through violence
intimidation and promises that often lead to death
more than 100,000 have died in drug-related violence in this state in recent years and countless lives have been ruined
And the main market for these drugs is the United States
From his 21 years as bishop in Buenos Aires
Francis knows well the destructive force of drugs and the deadly power of the drug dealers
He supported his priests in the shantytowns in their valiant efforts to prevent young people getting involved in this deadly traffic
and he defended their leader—Father Pepe de Maria—when the drug lords threatened to kill him if he did not stop his work in those shantytowns
he also sought to restore the young people by encouraging them to have a sense of their own worth and by offering them hope
“You are one of Mexico’s greatest treasures,” he told them
he understood well “that often it is difficult to feel your value when you are continually exposed to the loss of friends or relatives at the hands of the drug trade
of criminal organizations that sow terror.”
He said he recognized that “it is hard to feel the wealth of a nation when there are no opportunities for dignified work
when you feel your rights are being trampled on
which then leads you to extreme situations
It is difficult to appreciate the value of a place when
seduced by promises that end up being untrue.”
He explained that it is important they truly value themselves
or look to the future if you do not first know how to value yourselves
Francis told them that “Hope is born when you are able to experience that all is not lost; and for this to happen it is necessary to start at home
He listed some of the biggest ones as “words which devalue you
which make you feel second rate,” the feeling “that you do not matter to anybody or that that you have been left aside” and the feeling “that
you make no difference.” He said the latter feeling “kills” and “crushes us
he said “the principal threat to hope is to allow yourself to believe that you begin to be valuable when you start wearing the right clothes
are important because you have money; but in the depths of your heart you do not believe that you are worthy of kindness or love.” Indeed
the biggest threats are “when a person feels that they must have money to buy everything
including the love of others” and when a person believes “that by having a big car you will be happy.” Francis
departing from his text debunked this way of thinking
he explained that he is convinced that they are Mexico’s “wealth” because of his faith in Jesus
He assured the young people that “hand in hand with him
hand in hand with him we can begin again and again.”
“hand in hand with him we find the strength to say: it is a lie to believe that the only way to live
is to entrust oneself to drug dealers or others who do nothing but sow destruction and death
Hand in hand with Jesus Christ we can say: it is a lie that the only way to live as young people here is in poverty and exclusion; in the exclusion of opportunities
in the exclusion of training and education
Francis summed it all up by telling them: “It is Jesus Christ who refutes all attempts to render you useless or to be mere mercenaries of other people’s ambitions.”
Then speaking as their pastor he offered them some important advice: “when everything seems too much
when it seems that the world is crashing down around you
He assured them that “hand in hand” with Jesus “it is possible to live fully
by holding his hand it is possible to believe that it is worth the effort to give your best
they should not allow themselves to be “excluded” or “devalued” or treated “like a commodity.” Of course
then “you may not be able to have the latest car model at the door
you will not have pockets filled with money
but you will have something that no one can take away from you
embraced and accompanied.” They will have “the experience of being family
of feeling oneself as part of a community,” and this is “one of the best antidotes to all that threatens us
because it makes us feel that we are a part of the great family of God.”
He assured them that what he had told them “is not an invitation to flee and enclose ourselves,”; on the contrary it is an invitation “to go out and to invite others
to go out and proclaim to others that being young in Mexico is the greatest wealth
Francis told these young Mexicans that “Jesus is your hope
and he would never ask us to be assassins; rather
but rather everything in him speaks of life
life in a community; families and communities for the good of society.” Moreover
Jesus “destroys all efforts to make you useless or mere instruments of other people’s ambitions.” The young people broke into thunderous applause when he finished speaking and many shouted “Viva el Papa!”
was not just directed to the 50,000 enthusiastic youth in the stadium
it was intended for all the young people in Mexico
explained at a press briefing during the pope’s one-day visit to Morelia
Francis sees the drug trade in Mexico and the violence
corruption and human trafficking that accompany it
as not only a threat to the young people in this country
but also as a threat to the whole of society
first when he spoke to the country’s political and civic leaders at the Palacio Nacional
he called on the bishops “not to underestimate the moral and antisocial challenge which the drug trade represents for Mexican society as a whole
as well as for the church.” He wants them to be more engaged in this whole field and
Pope Francis concludes his visit to Mexico tomorrow by going to Ciudad Juarez where he is sure to address another major issue: migration
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(Bloomberg) — Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador is fulfilling a campaign promise by selling the Boeing 787 Dreamliner that’s transported former President Enrique Pena Nieto since 2016
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The plane is headed to a facility in California on Monday that’s best equipped for Boeing Co
Finance Minister Carlos Urzua and Banobras development bank director Jorge Mendoza said in a message to reporters in Mexico City
is ostentatious — more luxurious than Air Force One
and too lavish for the president of Mexico
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Reports at the time suggested the Mexican plane would be the most modern and efficient of any world leader
The current AF1 — there actually are two planes — are Boeing VC-25As
which are customized versions of Boeing 747-200B aircraft
Urzua and Mendoza didn’t say how much money Mexico is seeking for the plane
Urzua said the government will also sell an additional 60 airplanes and 70 helicopters
AMLO threw open to the public the Los Pinos compound in Mexico City
official residence to 14 Mexican presidents since 1934
He intends to maintain a more modest household
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The current boom of agave spirits in the United States is in full swing. Both tequila and mezcal are more available in bars, and used by bartenders more than ever. American consumers are estimated to make Mexican exports the highest-selling spirits in the country. According to Bloomberg
the country's longstanding most popular spirit
family-owned operations using methods passed down through generations
and Siete Misterios is honoring that through a dedication to quality for the production of ancestral and artisanal mezcal categories
that encapsulates the art of mezcal-making in its most fundamental form
Bartenders are coming up with mezcal cocktails more than ever
and there are many reasons Siete Misterios Doba-Yej is one of the first bottles bartenders reach for
Here is everything you need to know about Siete Misterios Doba-Yej mezcal
Oaxaca is the best place in Mexico to make mezcal because it is the most biodiverse state in regards to the agave plant
there are plenty of Oaxacan mezcal producers
led by master distillers or maestro mezcaleros
many of whom the Mestre's sought guidance from for their new brand
The producers say that their overall goal is not only to make great mezcal but to retain the traditions and methods that have fueled the craft for centuries
This meant farming and harvesting the highest quality agave possible
milling the roasted agave with wooden mallets
and distilling its extracted juice in clay pots that have been sculpted by hand
Despite being around for just over a decade
Siete Misterios promotes a dedication to ancestral methods
resulting in mezcal that has gained a reputation for accomplishing its goal of bottling Mexico's greatest qualities
As mentioned earlier, mezcal and tequila do share similarities such as their home country, significance to Mexican culture, and the plant they are made from. However, mezcal and tequila are actually quite different
tequila can only be legally made from one of the species of agave
can be made from any of the hundreds of different species of agave
each of which provides a different flavor profile
Another key difference is how tequila and mezcal are actually produced
Both spirits require the harvest and coring of the agave
which includes removing its leaves and exposing the core
Where the piñas used for tequila are cooked in an oven before being pressed
to make mezcal the agave cores are roasted in an earthen pit
Tequila and mezcal are very different spirits and are by no means interchangeable
The wider categorization of mezcal production makes for more unique products that can vary based on where the plants are harvested
Siete Misterios prides itself on showcasing Mexican heritage and that is achieved beyond what is inside the bottle
the mezcal itself is a product of some of the best resources Mexico has to offer
but the art of each bottle of Doba-Yej portrays one of three Mexican historical figures as well
Doba-Yej bottles feature either Doña Josefa Ortiz, Father Miguel Hidalgo, or José María Morelos. Ortiz played a vital role at the beginning of the Mexican War for Independence. On September 13, 1810, Ortiz transferred the message that warned Mexican revolutionaries of Spain's knowledge about their plan of insurgence (via Inside Mexico)
The note was given to Father Miguel Hidalgo
decided to move the date of the plan up to weeks to September 16
it's believed that the fight for Mexico's independence from Spain would've been squandered before it even began
As for José María Morelos, he was a Roman Catholic priest who became a leader of the Mexican Independence Movement following the execution of fellow revolutionary Hidalgo, per Britannica
The Siete Misterios mezcal brand is many bartenders' go-to mezcal because of its straightforwardness
Siete Misterios Doba-Yej may be the brand's flagship bottle
but the brand does make a full lineup of the spirit
The brand challenged bartenders around the world to help curate the best Siete Misterios cocktail menu possible
According to a press release from World's 50 Best Bars
which sponsored the contest and is an official partner of Siete Misterios
there were over 230 applicants across the globe that entered the 2022 competition
The winning cocktail menu was determined based on multiple factors
and building a narrative through innovation and presentation
After a thorough evaluation of all of the submitted menus
the winner was determined to be a bar in Guayaquil
which checked every box: The design of the menu (said to be minimalist and to the point) dedicated to an entire page to each drink; below a drawing of the cocktail included a description of each component including its flavor profile
As for the actual cocktails themselves, they are a representation of the beauty in simplicity. In an era that has spawned mezcal-based modern classics like the Oaxacan Old Fashioned and Division Bell
Juliana's menu is not only symbolic of mixology theory but also of the mezcal used to make it
As mezcal's popularity grows more and more in the United States, one classic American booze brand has taken advantage. Since its establishment in 2010, Siete Misterios' small-scale operation has grown into 25 markets worldwide, according to Drinks International
is that the brand was able to do so without any external investment
Co-founder Eduardo Mestre tells the site that for the first decade of the brand's operation
and other costs came from his and his brother's savings
As demand for the brand's mezcals grew more and more
the brothers realized they wanted a partnership beyond simply financial funding
Drinks International reports Chatham Imports
the parent company of Michter's Distillery
noticed the opportunity to step in and offer monetary help in addition to industry guidance
Michter's is an American whiskey brand and has been producing high-end bourbons and ryes since 1753
most highly acclaimed American whiskey brands on the market and is a powerhouse in the spirits industry
Siete Misteros entered a 50/50 partnership with Chatham to reach a larger production scale
the quality doesn't seem to have affected the mezcal; there is simply more of it to go around
Every one of Siete Misterios' mezcals starts with agave
The plants take a long time to reach the right maturation
and Siete Misterios claims to use only fully matured agave plants
Doba-Yej is the ancient Zapotec word for agave espadín
a plant species used to make this mezcal and the most popular agave for mezcal in general
Once the espadín starts producing its stem
they are cooked in an underground pit that is said to be fueled by locally sourced wood
and plants to enclose the smoke of the three to five-day roasting period
Once the pinas are cooked and removed from the pit
the agave cores are either crushed with a wooden mallet or in a Chilean Tahona mill pulled by a horse
the extracted juice is fermented naturally by the climate and wild yeast with nothing added besides water
When the fermented liquid is ready for distillation
Siete Misterios ancestral mezcals are distilled in clay pot stills (required by regulations for ancestral mezcal to receive the designation)
Doba-Yej is distilled in copper pot stills
as are all of the brand's mezcals in the "artisanal" category
The crystal clear Doba-Yej is distilled twice to bring the alcohol content up to 45% before finally being bottled and distributed for your enjoyment
smoother mezcal that is bright and mellow when grown in the right locations
Another key aspect of Doba-Yej's flavor profile is its smokiness
The earthen pit in which the espadín is roasted provides a flavor that is comparable to the smoke and peat of an Islay Scotch whisky
The infusion from the smoked wood and soil penetrates the agave deeply to accumulate a sucker punch of flavor that is then tamed and leveled by the plant's natural sweetness
The double distillation makes for a crystal clear mezcal that is clean in appearance yet complex in taste
The layers upon layers of flavor all provide different notes for your palate
A mezcal as expertly crafted as Doba-Yej is smooth enough to sip on its own
and its flavor is so robust and complex that sipping it neat is truly the most fundamental way to enjoy it
Mezcal producers like Siete Misterios make products like its Doba-Yej to be enjoyed by consumers
here is how you can be introduced to Doba-Yej in the best way possible
The aromas of Doba-Yej are essential to its flavor profile, so sipping the mezcal neat from a glass like a copita will allow you to take in the aromatics with every sip. Additionally, mezcal cocktails are popping up in bars all over the country
and there are plenty you can make with Doba-Yej right at home
Siete Misterios markets its Doba-Yej as a great mezcal for mixing
or medicina Latina are modern classics that feature this smoky spirit
You can also swap mezcal into a drink that does not usually contain it
and mezcal mules are some examples of reinventing a drink you have had plenty of times before with this new discovery
Siete Misterios Doba-Yej is meant to be enjoyed without restrictions
One of Siete Misterios Doba-Yej's best qualities is that you do not have to break the bank to enjoy some at a bar or add a bottle to your bar cart at home. According to Wine Searcher
the average price of a bottle of Siete Misterios Dona-Yej is $41
A single bottle of liquor costing more than $40 is definitely above average
but it must be remembered that mezcals are imported into the U.S.; therefore
they will naturally cost more than the average domestically produced spirits like bourbon
Siete Misterios Doba-Yej remains one of the most affordable and competitively priced mezcals on the market
In an era where mezcal's popularity is increasing exponentially
spending the money for a quality bottle is well worth it due to its versatility
you will be hard-pressed to find a quality mezcal at a cheaper price
If you do decide to go for a bottle of Doba-Yej
you can rest assured you will purchase a great bottle of mezcal
Of all of the mezcals now on the market competing with Siete Misterios Doba-Yej, Del Maguey Vida is one of the most comparable
Del Maguey produces over a dozen different mezcals of a variety of ages
but its Vida mezcal is the most fundamental expression
produced in the village of San Luis Del Rio in Oaxaca
meaning it is twice-distilled in copper pot stills and is also made from espadín agave
It is also naturally fermented and made in the state of Oaxaca
which makes for a very similar flavor profile
This particular mezcal is produced the main difference between the two bottles is that Del Maguey Vida has a slightly lower ABV of 42%
so while it may not pack the same punch as Doba-Yej
it does have a slightly mellower character
As for price, Del Maguey Vida can be purchased for an average of $39, per Wine-Searcher
there really is no significant difference between the two bottles in terms of cost
and if you find that you like Siete Misterios Doba-Yej
you are sure to like Del Maguey Vida as well.