Dos Hombres Tobala

Batch DH-T02. This is a good mezcal from a solid producer. While I’m not wow’d by this, it’s a solid sipper and something that I’d find enjoyable on a regular basis if it were in the $75-$100 range. Unfortunately, at $350ish you’re paying for the branding and not the quality of the product.

Aromas of cantaloupe, melon, and freshly ground black pepper. The palate is full of dried herbs: rosemary, sage, and oregano. More fruity notes of plums and dried mango. There’s also this lavender element, but not fresh lavender. It’s like a lavender dryer sheet. The finish is sweet with a note of raw honey.

If this were $75-$100 I’d say it would be a 4 star review from me. Unfortunately, that’s not the case, hence the lower review. I’d be disappointed if I paid $350 for this.

Nose: This smells soft and sweet but there’s certainly character underneath, some blue fruits leaning slightly candied I’m not sure I’ll be able to perfectly pin down (plums). A mild lactic character, like a mint yogurt. Sweet soil, gentle and pleasant smoke that ties in with some floral dryer sheet notes. Plums, lavender, a little vanilla side of tobala, I’d mostly say – that’s a solid camp in my head. A little hot for 45%.

Palate: Better texture than expected – for the proof, which still is atypically low for this producer. White pepper / lanolin weird thin acrid notes are coming through, which somehow mix okay with the plum fruit and mild green tinges. Like lavender dryer sheets, but not the super nice ones… just a touch weird and powdery. The finish is floral, sweet, more of this weird powdery thing. Powdered sugar I suppose can be thrown in as a note, though I’m not wildly pro or anti. Vague sweetness lingers.

Thoughts: A capable producer, in a generally speaking safe profile. The price is the main concern, by leagues. I’d buy this at $50-60 without the box (keeping the bottle).

Conclusion and “t8ke” scale rating: 5/10, other batches might hit a 6. Hard pass for so many reasons, but not insulting to consumers unlike the Casamigos I drank it next to.

Bottle 113/400, batch DH-T02. Initial aromas were a bit peppery like a Tepeztate. On the palate, notes of cooked agave syrup, milk chocolate, a bit of dried apricot, and a hint of rosemary. It’s not bad but also not impressive. This would have more complex flavors if the final ABV wasn’t dictated by the brand.

As a comparison, I sipped this next to Mezcalero Special #3 ($135, 48.5% ABV) and Banhez Tobala ($112, 47% ABV, Luis Pacheco 12/18). Dos Hombres Tobala is usually around $350/bottle and is 45% ABV. There have been some misses in the Banhez line but that particular Tobala is far superior than Dos Hombres at less than a third of the cost.

Dos Hombres really nailed this release by taking a page from the tequila marketing handbook. A “smooth” product in fancy bottle (and unnecessary box). Old American dudes can impress their rich friends with this bottle like they do with Don Julio 1942 and Clase Azul. It is obvious that some of the 5-star reviewers here have connections to the Dos Hombres brand.

I regret buying this… however, I’d be more than happy to buy a non-diluted Tobala directly from mezcalero Gregorio Velasco Luis for the same premium price.