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- 5 YEARS ON NOTHS
Meanwhile Drinks
3 products
Hackney, London
Meanwhile Drinks is based in Hackney, London. Our two house brands - Mezcal Pensador and Tequila Desdeya - are united in their principles of quality, honesty, and sustainability. They are achetypes of their categories, and proud examples of producers doing it the right way.
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Estimated deliveryMon 5th · FREE
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About
The story of Meanwhile Drinks begins with a sip of Mezcal.
The mezcal in question was in a back-alley cantina in Mexico City in the summer of 2015. Ben’s first taste of quality agave spirits. The attraction was instant and overwhelming.
3 years later he launched Pensador in the UK – a partnership between Ben and a collective of mezcaleros in the Miahuatlán region of Southern Oaxaca. At the heart of the brand is a commitment to traditional mezcalero culture. Pensador presents Real Artisanal Mezcals made to Rural Mexican Standards. A character which defines the category, but which is sadly absent in the industry.
In 2023 Pensador became the World’s First B Corp Mezcal. And in 2024 it was awarded the Mezcal Trophy as best in class at the IWSC awards.
But the world of agave is wide and alluring, and Mexico is full of distinctive local spirits. A breadcrumb trail of delicious sips led Ben north to Jalisco; the heartlands of Tequila.
There in Arandas, in the highlands of Los Altos, he met The Gonzales Family. With a rich tequila heritage, and a belief in natural process, they were the perfect partners for Desdeya. Together, they worked on a new recipe, an additive-free blanco uniquely fermented with red wine yeast from Burgandy, and bottled with less dilution at 42% ABV. The result was rich and full-bodied tequila, perfect for sipping or to elevate your favourite cocktails. Like Pensador, Desdeya is B Corp Certifed, joining an exlusive group of tequila brands with sustainability at their heart.
Press comments
“The World’s Best Tequila And Mezcal, According To The IWSC” "The finish is long and smooth, with lingering smoke, mild pepper spice, and a slightly mineral aftertaste. The natural sweetness of the agave shines through as the smoke fades."
I was reassured that with time, these names would become as recognisable to me as grape varieties. I sniffed and sipped and there was no going back, what a fascinating flavour profile! I now have plans for this drink, what must it taste like with game? With a BBQ? The smoky flavours are so smooth and palatable and the options, endless.
IWSC 2024 Mezcal Trophy Winner Gold Outstanding 98/100 “Powerfully elegant with a bright florality, subtle rose and layers of pithy lime, creamy agave and appealing minerality. Rich and rounded, the agave is juicy and cooling with smoky undertones. Heady, heavenly, and herbal on a long, spicy finish.”
“A tequila with real presence — bold yet refined, buttery in texture and exceptionally rounded on the palate.”