Bozal Ensamble is made with cultivated maguey Espadin and wild maguey Barril and Mexicano. It’s slightly smoky with lots of herbal tones.
About this mezcal
Bozal Ensamble is made with maguey Espadin, Barril, and Mexicano. The maguey Barril and Mexicano in this mezcal are both harvest from the wild, while the maguey Espadin is cultivated. This ensamble is slightly smoky with an herbaceous undertone that rests on the center of the palate. Citrus and floral notes from the Barril are introduced and strengthened by the warm viscous finish of the Mexicano. This ensamble is produced by three different mezcaleros (Fermin Garcia, Lucio Bautista, or Don Adrian Bautista) from two different towns (San Dionisio Ocotepec or Ejutla de Crespo). Check your bottle for details.
Bozal Mezcal
Mezcal Bozal is a craft, artisan, handmade Mezcal. They celebrate the wild side of the Mezcal world and the wild agave used to produce such rich spirits. They use agave from the steep precarious hillsides of Oaxaca and Guerrero that are indigenous to the region. These varietals produce flavors that are exotically intense, with rich earth tones and savory smokiness. From the heart of the maguey these flavors are traditionally extracted to produce mezcal that is wildly refined.
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Bicyclerider
1 reviewSlightly sweet, fruity (citrus) and a very gentle smoke. Like it.
Tacos-tequila-mortgages
7 reviewsAlways good for the price. Sweet, citrus, nothing offensive here.
Average José
41 reviews* Lot No: 00622
* NOM: 0472X
* ABV: 47%
Nose is semi-sweet vanilla and acetone; slightly floral. Not offensive but not very interesting either.
Rougher and hotter palate than I was expecting (and wanting) – bitter spices, pipe tobacco, paprika and peppercorn.
The finish also remains hot – green chili, hay, cinnamon and a bitter Mexicano note. Not my favorite Bozal and even at only $52/L I likely won’t be purchasing another bottle.
Jose M. Aguayo
11 reviewsNose: Floral
Taste: cinnamon, smoke, citrus, acidic
Ranger_Ryan
43 reviewsLot 00322
I really liked this at times, and just thought it was ok at others. The Barril adds sharpness, grassy. Smoke is evident. Good for the price.
Chad W.
11 reviewsLot #622
Nose is roasted nuts and firewood
Taste is some umami up front with a citrus-y acidic coldbrew coffee to follow. Some minerality notes and finishes on the smokier side.
Great intorductory mezcal but any price above $50 is a bit steep.
peastman
2 reviewsThis one is “just ok” for me…with a great smoky taste but a long way from the smoothness of the Pechuga Bozal – however this one is ~$60/bottle in my area.
Sverhage
7 reviewsReally dig this for the price point. Excellent quality to price ratio.
Tasting note: Citrus, lime, attractive nose, fresh, alive.
Buy again- Yes. Though I prefer the middle tier, Cenzio in the teal bottle.
Love Bozal ceramic bottles- they are a piece of art.
Maguey: Espadin, Barril y Mexico
Pueblo: Miahautlan y Etla
Estado: Oaxaca
Classes: Joven
NOM: 0472x
Lot number: 00222
Alcohol: 47%
Mezcal Mike
29 reviewsLot 00122. Before I got to the store, even as I pulled into the parking lot ostensibly to search for other wares, I had convinced myself that my initial attraction to this bottle was superficial. Perhaps overcome with optimism given my other finds, I erred on the side of adventure and scored this solid flavor. Nothing fancy, and I’d probably not replace it for the price I paid for it —$54.99— but it does deliver a relatively robust punch that settles nicely but does not linger too much. Worth a taste and I’m satisfied with my choice.
Lot 00122. Before I got to the store, even as I pulled into the parking lot ostensibly to search for other wares, I had convinced myself that my initial attraction to this bottle was superficial. Perhaps overcome with optimism given my other finds, I erred on the side of adventure and scored this solid flavor. Nothing fancy, and I’d probably not replace it for the price I paid for it —$54.99— but it does deliver a relatively robust punch that settles nicely but does not linger too much.
Forpowder
59 reviewsLot 322 47% Pueblo M. Y Etla. Aroma from the bottle reminds me of sweet pouch tobacco leaf and nail polish with a lemon-like scent to it. The flavor reminds me of green grass, Sage with a nice balance of smoky bitter cactus.
Zbourgraf
1 reviewSweet at the beginning but stiff at the end. Great volume type of drink. Would drink again.
Jonathan Lockwood
13 reviewsAlthough I live in Mexico, I’ve been seeing this Bozal posted by a number of mezcal aficionados in the US lately. While visiting my daughter in the US a couple of months ago, I found it at Trader Joe’s for only $36.99. Hmmm?
For those of us who are pretty experienced with mezcal, we can often tell whether a distillation is worthwhile. Not always, true. But if it includes—not only Espadín—but also some wild agaves, such as in this case Barril and Mexicano…AND if they let the grado go up pretty high, (in this case 47%,) normally its worth checking out.
Not so much with this one I’m sorry to say.
Is this special? No. Is it disgusting? Also no. Is it actually worthwhile? If I had a bottle of this at home, I would give it away–to someone who didn’t know any better. But if I found myself removed against my will from my beloved Mexico–and if it were the only mezcal for miles, I’d drink it. Salud.
Although I live in Mexico, I’ve been seeing this Bozal posted by a number of mezcal aficionados in the US lately. While visiting my daughter in the US a couple of months ago, I found it at Trader Joe’s for only $36.99. Hmmm?
For those of us who are pretty experienced with mezcal, we can often tell whether a distillation is worthwhile. Not always, true. But if it includes—not only Espadín—but also some wild agaves, such as in this case Barril and Mexicano…AND if they let the gr
Justin.Anderson3
14 reviewsLOT 03620
Nose is sweet, grassy and slight cheese at the end. The mouth is a medium body, strong finish, very smoky this batch. I enjoyed this one, but there are better ones out there. The barril flavor on this one is very dominant than the other agaves. I would drink again. Not bad.
SoloAgave
86 reviewsNot sure how Bozal makes anything on these expressions but for $40 its a winner. Good heat, cooked agave, slight spicy complexity, but overall very agreeable. Seems like this bottle is everywhere recently: Trader Joes, Whole Foods, and cocktail bars.
Leif
8 reviewsa decent offering from bozal in the ensamble variety. while i normally prefer my ensambles to consist of 100% wilds, this majority espadin ensamble has a nice light and sweet characteristic. the grassy taste of the mexicano comes through in the bottle i had. would like to try another batch and compare
meserole
73 reviewsNeeded something for mixing cocktails to avoid the impulse of pulling from my $100+ collection, and an ensamble of mexicano, barril, and espadin for only about $48 caught my attention. I know I’ve had some of their more expensive single agave variants before but not this one.
Hot and boozy on the nose, with the creamy, slightly detergent/perfume flavor that I’ve come to associate with Mexicanos.
Not super complex, but very pleasant, and a good way to show folks new to mezcal that “smokiness” is merely one possible flavor that mezcal can offer. (None of that here).
Probably 3.5 stars in a vacuum but I can’t help but factor in a good value and I think this is one. That fancy bottle makes for a good gift too 😉
Needed something for mixing cocktails to avoid the impulse of pulling from my $100+ collection, and an ensamble of mexicano, barril, and espadin for only about $48 caught my attention. I know I’ve had some of their more expensive single agave variants before but not this one.
Hot and boozy on the nose, with the creamy, slightly detergent/perfume flavor that I’ve come to associate with Mexicanos.
Not super complex, but very pleasant, and a good way to show folks new to mezcal that “smoki
Wanderingspider
53 reviewsLOT: 01719
Nose- definitely a bit hot and volatile, brown sugar, vanilla, roasted maguey and a bit of a gingerbread thing going on. Also classic bubblegum?
Palate- some spice (cinnamon), lime zest and…wet but not moldy cardboard. Boozey with this sort of alkaline finish.
Not flashy but reminds me of mexico.
This score on this page I would say is very accurate for this particular bottle
In between a 3.5 and 3.75 for sure.
HighWine
76 reviewsEspadín-Barrill. Sweet nose that reminds of taffy and pimento olives. Taste makes me think tequila at first. It’s smooth but not for the faint of heart. I know people love this brand but it comes across as one-note to me: oven roasted cactus. Good mouthfeel. Fine for the price point but not something I would seek out over alternatives.
TzotollineRaramuri
75 reviewsLot 02920
?- clear
?- soft drying impact.
Aromas of mamey, ripe banana, guava, wild floral honey, mint, thyme, green penca de maguey, cucumber, peppercorn, light smoke.
Adequate & complex production.
Average length and fine character.
?- astringent effect with some coating; sufficient smooth to rough alcohol; medium body.
Primarily bitter taste, with light sweet/sour/piquant/savory highlights; buttery smoothness.
Flavors of raw wild honey, cooked sweet potato, persistent smokyness, peppercorn, and mint.
Concentrated flavor intensity, slightly complex, harmonious balance.
Pleasant and very long finish.
Very good to excellent overall impression.
*bold character, yet not over board; well balanced, very interesting profile.
Learn more about organoleptic evaluation at the International Wine & Spirits Guild’s seminar in Fine Spirits,
or more on Agave Spirits certifications through the Agave Spirits Institute.
Lot 02920
?- clear
?- soft drying impact.
Aromas of mamey, ripe banana, guava, wild floral honey, mint, thyme, green penca de maguey, cucumber, peppercorn, light smoke.
Adequate & complex production.
Average length and fine character.
?- astringent effect with some coating; sufficient smooth to rough alcohol; medium body.
Primarily bitter taste, with light sweet/sour/piquant/savory highlights; buttery smoothness.
Flavors of raw wild honey, cooked sweet potato, persistent smokyness, peppercor
ElAgave
34 reviewsNose – citrus punch, lemon zest, lime rind, creaminess, vegetal
Palate – clay, barnyard, soil, hay, green vegetal, citrus rind, grassy
Finish – fresh green veggies, wet soil, clay