Alipus Destilado en Barro is distilled in small clay pots, which is typical of the region of Sola de Vega, Oaxaca, where this mezcal is produced.
About this mezcal
Alipus Destilado en Barro is a small batch mezcal made using clay pot distillation and maguey Arroqueno (agave Americana). There are three different mezcaleros who make this Mezcal, and the sticker on the neck of the bottle will tell you which mezcalero made that specific bottle. There are three possibilities for the mezcalero: Tio Leonardo (made by Leonardo Rojas), Tio Jesus (made by Jesus Rios), or Tio Felix (made by Felix Garcia).
Alipus Mezcal
Alipús was born in 1999, as a project of the Destilería Los Danzantes, with Don Joel Antonio and sons as the first producers, in San Juan del Río. Subsequently, Don Eduardo Hernández, of Santa Ana del Río, making Alipús Santa Ana mezcal; Don Cosme Hernandez and his son Cirilo in San Baltazar Guelavila, who make the Alipús San Baltazar mezcal; Don Valente Angel and sons, of Santa María La Pila, with the Alipús San Andrés mezcal. In 2013, Alipús San Luis was incorporated, made by Don Baltazar Cruz and sons, of San Luis del Río, and Alipús San Miguel, made by Don Felix García, Leonardo Rojas, and Tío Jesús in the Potrero Sola de Vega.
Craft Distillers’ tasting video
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HighWine
65 reviewsTio Leonardo
Bottle 308/516
Lot SMS002L/13
48.2% ABV
I get a ton of citrus in the nose on this, orange rind and lime leaf mixed with ocean air. It could be the presentation that accompanied the copita with beautiful fresh orange slices that is influencing my perception. So smooth in the mouth. Vanilla wafer cookies, honeycomb, verbena, and terra cota with fresh Italian parsley. Medium-full bodied. A wonderful sipper and I’m my Top 3 Alipus for sure.
Chuey Agave
16 reviewsLot: SMS003F/19 bottle 479/750
Tio Felix
Aroma – mineral notes from the clay pot come through strong, you can smells the espadin and arroqueno separately as well. Roasted agave and Citrus for days.
Flavor – earthy and mineral notes from the clay pot. Espadin flavor profile dominates. Mouthfeel is a little thin and the finish is strong and medium long.
MinorThreet
7 reviewsTio Felix
Wow was this full of industrial notes but in a great way
N: asphalt, rubber, menthol, sasparilla, spicy rootbeer barrel candies
P: bright grapefruity citrus, oak, green vegetal funk, cigarette ash,
F: bitter citrus peel, clay, bitter dark cocoa transition
Jori
26 reviewsOriginally tasted Feliz, Jesus & Leonardo’s ancestral Mezcals at Los Danzantes’ location in Centro, Oaxaca City for my 30th birthday! Had to get a bottle* Bottle 402/1204 (2019, I believe)
Aroma: BBQ Chicken, apple and citrus instantly. Fruity and earthy minerality.
Taste: Nice heat and smoke on first sip, some roasted pineapple, Pollo Asado. White raspberry, honeydew melon, charred jalapeño. A slight coating of sweet Madagascar vanilla throughout the palate. Reminiscent of a smoked NYC cheesecake. Exhale of light bbq smoke through the nose and upper palate. F me, that’s good!
*I loved all of them but could only bring back one bottle, so I bought the Leonardo for mi padre, since he doesn’t care for the more Smoky/peppery Mezcals. Jesus and Felix were better for my palate.
Originally tasted Feliz, Jesus & Leonardo’s ancestral Mezcals at Los Danzantes’ location in Centro, Oaxaca City for my 30th birthday! Had to get a bottle* Bottle 402/1204 (2019, I believe)
Aroma: BBQ Chicken, apple and citrus instantly. Fruity and earthy minerality.
Taste: Nice heat and smoke on first sip, some roasted pineapple, Pollo Asado. White raspberry, honeydew melon, charred jalapeño. A slight coating of sweet Madagascar vanilla throughout the palate. Reminiscent of a smoked NY
Rakhal
391 reviewsAlipus en Barro
Tio Leonardo Lot:SMS001L/19
Dark black wet clay with roots and leaves in it, forest decay, black licorice. Delicious.
Zack Klamn
509 reviewsLote: SMS002L/16, Bottle: 1079/1224
Nose – Lemon meringue pie – crust and all. Oak campfire embers.
Palate – Oreo pie crust. Dark chocolate the whole way in fact. Lime citrus. Pineapple. Rolling tobacco. Heavy ash and some clay in the finish (definitely not Sola de Vega funky which is a minor disappointment). Chocolate mousse notes sprout up in the aftertaste.
aarild
132 reviewsTio Jesus. Did not catch any batch number.
This is so special, it does not quite compare to any other mezcal I have tried. Ash, soil, clay, peat, dried fruit on the nose. Tastes of dried limes, dark mulberries, Scottish pipe tobacco and Irish whiskey. Best aspect of this mezcal is the aftertaste where the tongue is exposed to flavours hitherto reserved for the nostrils. The low price is also a plus, of course.
Jonathan Lockwood
13 reviewsI’ve had this many times. The first time (about 4.5 years ago) was at a nightclub with my wife and another couple here in San Miguel de Allende. At the time I thought it might be the best Espadín I’d ever had, and was blown away by every sip. At least one time maybe a year later I found it disappointing. (Bar proprietor adding something to it? No se.) A few other times I’ve had it and found it pretty damn good. The essence of clay is balanced by a bit of sweetness. I’d say this is my favorite of the typically available Alipus offerings.
I’ve had this many times. The first time (about 4.5 years ago) was at a nightclub with my wife and another couple here in San Miguel de Allende. At the time I thought it might be the best Espadín I’d ever had, and was blown away by every sip. At least one time maybe a year later I found it disappointing. (Bar proprietor adding something to it? No se.) A few other times I’ve had it and found it pretty damn good. The essence of clay is balanced by a bit of sweetness. I’d s
spasta
22 reviewsOne word. Ash. Like a campfire now just smoldering after a long night of camping. But the smoke doesn’t linger like a low quality mezcal. Very interesting bottle at just the right price.
SoloAgave
86 reviews80/20 Espadin and Arroqueno from Tio Leonardo- got a great deal on this bottle and the clay pot stuff seemingly always delivers. This bottle is no different – considering the value and the blend this a definite winner. Round, citrus, mild smoke, sweet, and all too easy to drink. One of my go-to bottles right now!
AdrianM
18 reviewsClay at its best from Alipus. I’m a sucker for it. I tried the 50/50 arroqueno and espadin and it is an exciting ensamble, very enjoyable. Sweet on the palate too. Great stuff.
James
9 reviewsLight funk on the nose, sweet and smoky, smells a little like cola. Palate is clay and spice, full mouthfeel, a little dark, earth. This bottle took a little while to open up. Very enjoyable, a little thick, not overly complex, but well balanced with strong flavors. Lot SMS001L/17 from Tio Leonardo.
Wanderingspider
49 reviewsI got a bottle of this in Playa del Carmen. Went through to pretty quick.
It was a pretty good sipper and it made some good cocktails too.
Smooth, clay, some citrus, funk not overly complex but the price was right! Solid Arroqueño ensamble!
booyaka2
7 reviewsHuge fan, sweet cirtice with clay funk right off the bat. pepper and spice followup. Has a stink that i love!!!!! Get it and enjoy.
stigibeu
33 reviews4.25. Tio Pedro. Fresh, spring rain, citrus, minimal alcohol out of a Denver and Liely glass. Some sweet honey BBQ too, although not much. Moderate clay funk. A not unpleasant lemon pledge note too. Palate-smoke, more sweetness, some earthy bite towards the end. Super random note of grape dimetapp in the middle, but far less medicinal, if that makes sense. Very good mouthfeel for me. Long mineral finish, one you’d hold up there as the classic example of Olla de Barro distillation. This punches well above its price point. Value 4.75+, but I scored this one (and others) without taking that into account. Great mezcal.
4.25. Tio Pedro. Fresh, spring rain, citrus, minimal alcohol out of a Denver and Liely glass. Some sweet honey BBQ too, although not much. Moderate clay funk. A not unpleasant lemon pledge note too. Palate-smoke, more sweetness, some earthy bite towards the end. Super random note of grape dimetapp in the middle, but far less medicinal, if that makes sense. Very good mouthfeel for me. Long mineral finish, one you’d hold up there as the classic example of Olla de Barro distillation. This punches
GeorgePBurdell
48 reviewsLot: SMS003J/17
Lanolin and sweet lemon on the nose. Subtle vegetal, spice and pepper on the palate. Round mouthful, nice finish with some gentle heat.
t8ke
144 reviewsLong, rich and filled with pepper, clay, lemons, cream and a nice cream cheese frosting note.
Nic Hnastchenko
108 reviewsReally really liked this one. Can’t remember the last Espadin I had by them but this was super smooth, nice bite, and had that clay pot coming through nicely. Think I need to get a clay pot distilled bottle next time I pick something up
Aequivinius
6 reviewsThis one changes tremendously over time – give it 20 minutes in the glas, and the phenolic nose changes into a beautiful stew of mangos, bananas, limes cooked in butter; clove oil, too, and lemon balm freshness. Incredible texture, smooth and buttery; cinnamon spice. Wet clay in the finish, indeed. Very powerful mezcal, but gently so.
razorbackmike
137 reviewslove this mezcal.the nose is sweet but has a funky cheese layer.the taste is sweet up front but the bold spicy arroqueno takes over mid way.the finish has a strong pepper bite.very little clay.unique and strong but not overwelming.has a good punch.delicious!
Chris
40 reviewsSuper nose on this to start out. We began with some Rey Campero Sierra Negra tonight, which was very tasty. This was more floral. The middle on the mouth was great too. Not sure what to say about the aftertaste though. You would think copper rather than clay. Perhaps just a more mineral finish. Not off putting, but unusual given the rest of the flavors coming out of this. I’m looking forward to trying a limited edition Alipus 100% arroqueno in the next day or so.
Porter
1 reviewTio Leonardo is one of my all time favorites. Savory and complex with sweet smoke, deep earth and chocolate undertones. It’s everything I could want in a Mezcal.
Tyler
595 reviewsVegetal and earthy on the nose. This 80/20 blend is bursting with delicious Arroqueno flavor. There are notes of dried tobacco, grape, black pepper, and citrus. This mezcal is like a very complex espadin, approachable and supremely enjoyable. Lot SMS001L/14 from Tio Leonardo.
Jonny
618 reviewsThe bottle I tried was from Tio Leonardo. This starts out sweet and a little spicy and then moves into greater complexity and more Arroqueno flavor. It’s a bit vegetal and fruity with notes of fresh berries, but this really straddles the line between fruit and spice. It’s perfectly balanced with a full mouthfeel. Fantastic!
3chainz
19 reviewsSweet fragrance and light mouth feel.
Taste is complex, earthy, with vegetal notes
Keith
35 reviewsLeonardo – funk, earth, clay; not the sweet side of Espadin or Arroqueno. I give it four stars for its strength of character, but would give it three and a half stars if that option were available. To be clear, I like funk, it is a good thing.