La Compaà±àâa is a small village in the district of Ejutla, southwest of Oaxaca City in the Valles Centrales Region. The La Soledad distillery is owned and operated by Gregorio Hernandez, along with his sons Valentàân and Joel, and is situated on a hilly plateau at an elevation of 5,000 feet above sea level. The steep slopes favor hardy agaves and the struggle to survive in this harsh growing environment comes through in the complexity of their mezcal. Don Gregorio employs a method of distillation that is common in the region of Ejutla, using a single, extended distillation in a modified pot still with a cooling chamber called a refrescador, which contributes to the unique, bold flavor profile.