Introducing La Manplesa, D.C.’s First Agave Spirit

“La Manplesa” - what some Spanish speakers call Mt. Pleasant - commemorates the 33rd anniversary of the Mt. Pleasant Riots that started on May 5, 1991. This special edition art label is a historical snapshot of the violent catalyst by the establishment that mobilized the Hispanic neighborhood to protest for their civil rights in D.C.

Label Artwork

On the label is a distressed collage of the Mt. Pleasant Riot, commissioned with local artist Saïd Martínez Calderón (who we met at Don Juan’s Restaurant over a glass of whiskey). The label art, designed by Saïd, is a reflection of the “Immibrand” project, which gives voice to the forgotten challenges many immigrants continue to face. In explaining his piece, he provided:

I understand that the label “La Manplesa” is difficult to read, but it’s very much intentional. There’s a difference between legibility and communication. What I want to communicate is the unrest, chaos, and breaking point that the neighborhood had by this grave injustice. Setting a police car on fire is a proper and human response when authority has broken the social contract. I watched the documentary on it and jotted down some statements/slogans from archived photos which is what the cut/paste grungy look and feel of my handwriting is.

The burning car was parked on Mt. Pleasant Street in front of Lamont Park and was one of the first vehicles set ablaze during the riot. The photograph represented in the label art was captured by Rick Reinhard, a long term Mt. Pleasant resident, photographer and activist.

Limited Release Offerings

After tasting through the aged agave barrels, there was one that stood out as exceptional and unique which we decided to bottle as a single barrel at cask strength. Two additional barrels went into a blend and were proofed down to 40% ALC/VOL.

Single Barrel Selection

Cask Strength Añejo Agave Spirit Aged in Mt. Pleasant Club’s Bourbon Whiskey Barrels

  • Distillation: Jalisco, Mexico

  • Barrel Aging: Washington, DC

  • Barrel Date: 10/25/2022

  • Aged: 16 Months

  • ALC/VOL: 54.8%

  • Bottles: 222

Two Barrel Blend

A Blend of Añejo Agave Spirit Aged in Mt. Pleasant Club’s Bourbon Whiskey Barrels

  • Distillation: Jalisco, Mexico

  • Barrel Aging: Washington, DC

  • Barrel Date: 10/25/2022

  • Aged: 16 Months

  • ALC/VOL: 40%

  • Bottles: 652

Label Art by DC Artist Saïd Martínez Calderón

Saïd Martínez Calderón is an artist and graphic designer living and working in D.C. since 2006. Originally from Mexico City, he’s a formerly undocumented immigrant and arrived in 1992 when his family made the difficult decision to cross the river north, at five years old. Saïd hasn’t forgotten the challenges he and his family had endured and those that other immigrants continue to face. His art reflects those challenges.

The “Immibrand” project began as a response to the hateful rhetoric against Latin American immigrants. Saïd felt compelled to fight back with his art in the form of stylized portraits of iconic Latin American figures as pop art to highlight the community’s collective experience and contributions to art and culture. You can follow him on Instagram @immibrand and support his work on his website at www.immibrand.com.

Label Photograph by Mt. Pleasant Resident Rick Reinhard

The photograph represented in the label art was captured by Rick Reinhard during the Mt. Pleasant Riots in 1991. Rick is a long term Mt. Pleasant resident, photographer and activist.

Just before 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, May 5, 1991, Daniel Enrique Gomez, a 30 year old Salvadoran immigrant, was in Lamont Park in Mt. Pleasant where cops tried to arrest him on a charge of drinking in public. This resulted in a confrontation that ended with Gomez being shot in the chest. A life support ambulance arrived at 7:46 p.m., and Gomez was taken to Washington Hospital Center’s MedStar unit in critical condition. What definitively happened is still in question to this day. The police account differs from Gomez’s and other witnesses’ accounts. Gomez’s 1992 criminal case ended in a mistrial because the jury was deadlocked on what actually happened, and his 1995 civil suit for $4 million was rejected because the jury was also stymied on what had occurred on that night.

Whatever actually happened, the community reacted to what they said was the shooting of a man who was handcuffed and defenseless, which started 2 days of looting, car burning, and window smashing. After 2 days, over 200 people were arrested, 60 police cars had been burned or damaged, 21 city busses damaged and 31 businesses looted or damanged, which is known today as the Mt. Pleasant Riot.

Additional resources and information on the riots:

The following photos of the Mt. Pleasant riots were taken by Rick Reinhard.