This Cuentacuentos Tepeztate is the last batch ever produced by maestro mezcalero Everardo Garcia Salvador.
About this destilado de agave
Cuentacuentos Tepeztate from Everardo Garcia Salvador was produced in the small community of San Pablo Mitla, which is also home to the Mitla ruins, the second most important archeological site in the state of Oaxaca. Everardo passed away tragically before his mezcal reached the US in early 2022. This is the last batch of mezcal that Everardo produced before his passing. All profits from the sale of this mezcal go directly to his surviving family.
Cuentacuentos
Cuentacuentos curates small-batch traditional mezcals and destilados de agave from producers across the state of Oaxaca. Cuentacuentos released its first 6 mezcal expressions in 2018; future releases from the brand will change over time and include non-certified mezcals. The logo and bottle artwork (by artist Cesar Ruiz Conseco) features an opossum or tlacuache in Spanish. The tlacuache on the logo is El Viejito, the little old man opposum who stole mezcal from the demons as a service to humanity. The tlacuache ranks with the jaguar, eagle, and burro in importance in Zapotec, Taina, and Mexican mythologies. The Cuentacuentos motto is Mezcal brings people together, stories make us friends.
Review this bottle
Login or create an account to add your tasting notes
COak
229 reviewsSweet peppers and some lavender on the nose. Similar to aromas on Everardo’s madrecuixe. This has a sweet minerality with some pepper spice. It also has a candied grape quality. I enjoy the long lasting finish. I have this ahead of Everardo’s tobala but behind his madrecuixe. RIP.
Jonny
708 reviewsLot 34MC. Soft aromas of stewed green beans, allspice, cloves, dry pine needles, and sour cream. The palate has a fair amount of smoke. More tasting notes of stewed vegetables: green beans, asparagus, and black olives. This is a good Tep but not quite as lively and vivacious as I typically look for. That said, the story behind this batch is really sad. I feel fortunate to have tasted it.
Tyler
643 reviewsSad story behind this batch. The mezcal itself is ok. I look for complexity when I reach for a Tepeztate mezcal and only a few are on my ‘Top Tep’ list. This has vegetal herbaceous notes with yogurt chips. Overall soft and sweet. I didn’t realize it was partly clay pot which makes sense given some of the softened flavors. I dig this but am into his Madrecuishe more than this release. Bottle is quite new so will update this review if there is a dramatic change. Lot 34MC.
peter-campora
15 reviewsCuentacuentos Tepeztate by Everardo Garcia Salvador (Mezcal #2)
This batch of Tepeztate by Everardo is hybrid distilled like his madrecuishe batch. This I believe is one of Everardo’s last batches before he passed away.
Lot 34-MC
Aroma: This is less sweet than his madrecuishe batch on the nose. I get lots of lemongrass and minerality. There still is a sweet thread throughout this that reminds me of the cornbread I grew up eating in Louisiana.
Palate: This is sweeter up front on the palate than on the nose. These hybrid distilled batches match up really well on the nose and palate. The minerality and lemongrass come towards the finish. I feel like there’s also some slightly green banana imparting a slightly tart note. The balance between the green notes produced by the tepextate and the sweeter cornbread notes and minerality that I would guess come from the clay run is exceptional. Whereas the madrecuishe felt a bit more cohesive, this feels like a tug of war where neither side is gaining dominance. Great mouthfeel on this.
Finish: Fantastic finish. The minerality and banana intertwines, but the banana feels sweeter than it initially was on the palate. Good length.
Overall: Wow, what a wonderful batch from Everardo. The balance here is fantastic. It’s hard to complain about anything, but if I had to nitpick I think a hair more complexity would make this an all-time favorite with me. The bottle is still relatively untouched, so I’m hoping I find that touch of complexity with a bit more time working through the bottle.
Cuentacuentos Tepeztate by Everardo Garcia Salvador (Mezcal #2)
This batch of Tepeztate by Everardo is hybrid distilled like his madrecuishe batch. This I believe is one of Everardo’s last batches before he passed away.
Lot 34-MC
Aroma: This is less sweet than his madrecuishe batch on the nose. I get lots of lemongrass and minerality. There still is a sweet thread throughout this that reminds me of the cornbread I grew up eating in Louisiana.
Palate: This is sweeter up front on the palate