Agave de Cortes Joven was made with agave Espadin in Santiago Matatlan. Unlike the Reposado, Anejo, and Extra Anejo, this mezcal is unaged.
About this mezcal
Agave de Cortes Joven was made with 100% agave Espadin. It was traditionally produced by mezcalero Leoncio Santiago with a copper still in Santiago Matatlan. It entered the market in 2015 at 43% ABV, but Casa Cortes changed that to 45% ABV back in 2016. This was the first release from the Cortes family that used cultivated Espadin. Given the success of the Nuestra Soledad brand, which also uses cultivated agave Espadin, the Agave de Cortes Joven mezcal is no longer produced at the same frequency as in previous years.
Agave de Cortes
The Cortes family has been producing, packing, and trading mezcal in Santiago Matatlan for five generations. They own and operate the restaurant and mezcaleria known as Mezcalogia in Central Oaxaca City, and they also produce and curate the brands Nuestra Soledad and El Jolgorio
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jmehrk35
37 reviewsProduced in 2018
Edition 67
Batch LSHES210818ACJ
Bottle 3275/3500
45% ABV
Very slight prickle on the initial inhale.
Mild aroma of cooked agave and melon followed by honeysuckle.
Watery with sufficient alcohol and drying initial mouth feel.
Flavor is mild all around. Cooked agave, light eucalyptus and cinnamon flavor are most noticeable. Some olive brine on the retro nasal. Very light smoke.
A good beginner mezcal, and holds up in cocktails (I made it in a mezcal ranch water).
Produced in 2018
Edition 67
Batch LSHES210818ACJ
Bottle 3275/3500
45% ABV
Very slight prickle on the initial inhale.
Mild aroma of cooked agave and melon followed by honeysuckle.
Watery with sufficient alcohol and drying initial mouth feel.
Flavor is mild all around. Cooked agave, light eucalyptus and cinnamon flavor are most noticeable. Some olive brine on the retro nasal. Very light smoke.
A good beginner mezcal, and holds up in cocktails (I made it in a mezcal ranch water).
CMWest
4 reviewsA bottle with simple flavors that aren’t too aggressive. Not a lot going on, but it won’t disappoint. A solid choice for inexpensive cocktails.
Cy Bister
26 reviewsNot much going on aroma-wise, very mild river stone and agave. Taste is quite mild with a decent spicy heat on the finish. Hard to really separate out any flavors, though it’s definitely a pleasant drink. Best summed up as a decent semi-sweet, non-smoky mescal. Nothing more, nothing less.
Mansson
71 reviewsEdition 13, distilled 2014. This is a middle-of-the-road mezcal, but well made. Nothing stands out: no aggressive smoke, not overly sweet. I assume this is targeted at the cocktail scene and for that it works very well. Probably also a good choice for people new to mezcal.
AndrewF
3 reviewsAggressively average: nothing to hate, nothing to love. Interesting mix of light, dry notes too ephemeral to name, weirdly similar to dry French sauv blancs. Soft smoke. Servicable, but I’d go elsewhere at this price point.
Jonny
615 reviewsEdition 20 from 2016. This doesn’t have many strong aromas. Slight hints of rose. This is very light on the palate. It’s dry with notes of green grapes and olive oil. This probably best used as a mixer.