The Taste of Celebration in Gem & Bolt Mezcal
We visit Oaxaca to discover the alchemy behind the brand and its gracious smoky flavor
Gem & Bolt founders Adrin Adrina and Elliott Coon shared a childhood in a community of creators in the mountains of Virginia, where plant medicine was part of everyday customs. Long before their life in Mexico, they made damiana elixirs as a way to “share herbal knowledge through the celebratory door,” says Coon. Both artists and alchemists, the duo wanted to be at the crossroads of art, plants and celebration. They learned that there couldn’t be a better place to bring this vision to life than in mezcal country.
“Oaxaca embraces the connectivity between these realms,” she adds. “People across generations and walks of life come together to honor art and community, making their own booze for enjoyment and medicinal purposes as well as a wild proliferation of creativity throughout.”
The distillation process occurs in two phases: first in a traditional copper still where it rests for two or three months; then in a second custom still made with a combination of stainless steel and copper, where damiana is added. The delicate herb is known for its aphrodisiac powers and is the perfect ingredient to achieve the balanced, round flavor that Gem & Bolt is known for—it seduces devotees across the globe. As Adrina makes clear, “We want to rewrite the conversation around spirits and alcohol, the way people imbibe, the way people celebrate. Damiana is a heart opener, and we like to think our mezcal will be sipped and appreciated as an elevated experience, like the best celebration you could have for yourself.”
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