Farolito Penca Verde is made by maestro Valentin Celis, who has been making mezcal for In Situ Mezcaleria in Oaxaca City for many years.
About this mezcal
Farolito Penca Verde is made with agave Penca Verde; on the bottle it is labeled as ‘Agave Sp’ which means it is an unclassified species. This mezcal is made by maestro mezcalero Valentin Celis in Zimatlan, Oaxaca. Once cooked and crushed, the agave are fermented in clay pots, and then distilled in a small clay pot still. A different batch of this was imported into the US in 2014 under the Wahaka VdM brand. We tasted it as part of our blog Wahaka VdM at The Pastry War (see the Oaxaca – Penca Verde entry). The initial Farolito batch imported into the US was 702 bottles.
Farolito Mezcal
Farolito Mezcal is the exported brand from the renowned In Situ Mezcaleria in Oaxaca City. All of the mezcal in the mezcaleria, as well as the mezcal bottled under the Farolito brand, are curated by mezcal legend Ulises Torrentera. Ulises has spent the last couple decades touring palenques of the different regions of Oaxaca and beyond. He is also the author of Mezcalaria and other emblematic books about Mezcal.
Review this bottle
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zeepuzzler
25 reviewsLot PV00-11042017, Bottle 233/702.
Aromas of damp forest floor, well-worn leather, and clay. There’s an abstract sweetness on the nose that doesn’t take shape till it’s on the palate. Honey’s not exactly it. But after rooting around a cabinet full of 50 different types of honeys, syrups, and other sweet things, I finally figured it out: mugolio (pinecone bud syrup). I also get oregano, sage, lemon zest, and the kind of heavy-handed incense you only find in head shops. The finish is meaty and floral and lingers on forever.
I can see why people like this one so much. It’s just a little too perfumy for my tastes.
Lot PV00-11042017, Bottle 233/702.
Aromas of damp forest floor, well-worn leather, and clay. There’s an abstract sweetness on the nose that doesn’t take shape till it’s on the palate. Honey’s not exactly it. But after rooting around a cabinet full of 50 different types of honeys, syrups, and other sweet things, I finally figured it out: mugolio (pinecone bud syrup). I also get oregano, sage, lemon zest, and the kind of heavy-handed incense you only find in head shops.
meserole
73 reviewsHappy I opted for a bottle of the Horno instead of this one, which I only sampled. Perhaps it would grow on me, but the pretty bold flavor profile wasn’t appealing during my 1oz trial — tennis balls on the nose is rather exciting, but the mid-mouth flavors of oregano, spearmint, and leather left a sort of bitter herbal experience on the tongue that I didn’t love.
AdamCA
16 reviewsPV00-11042017
Light and sweet and incredibly drinkable. I had to check that it was over 45% ABV and not 40 or below. It’s so light that I find myself taking another sip right away to chase the flavor again. It’s so delicate, yet lingers with a satisfying warmth filling my mouth. Nothing unpleasant throughout. It seems to alternate between the sweet/floral/honeyed and the earthy/rich, both there at once. That’s where the complexity lies, in the balance between those two sides. I repeat that it’s dangerously drinkable. Most mezcals I like to savor in small amounts, but this one I keep drinking and pouring.
PV00-11042017
Light and sweet and incredibly drinkable. I had to check that it was over 45% ABV and not 40 or below. It’s so light that I find myself taking another sip right away to chase the flavor again. It’s so delicate, yet lingers with a satisfying warmth filling my mouth. Nothing unpleasant throughout. It seems to alternate between the sweet/floral/honeyed and the earthy/rich, both there at once. That’s where the complexity lies, in the balance between those two sides. I
Rakhal
430 reviewsWhoa!! I instantly love this! Flowers and wet soil and incense and sandalwood!! An old musty library with faded leather chairs. Rolling tobacco. Next time I’m at In Situ I’m trying everything from this Mezcalero!
ElAgave
34 reviewsNose: earthy, mineral, herbal
Palate: clay, herbal, light vegetal, lemon extract
Finish: minty, oily, lemon essential oil
t8ke
144 reviewsPhenomenal – one of the best Mezcals I’ve had in some time. This profile was lovely, a perfect blend of sweet, vegetal and tangy fruits.
Mansson
71 reviewsLot PV00-11042017, distilled April 2017. Departing from the unanimous praise from earlier tasters, this was rather a disappointment for me at a blind tasting. I find it a bit insipid, with a perfume-like sweetness dominating the palate.
Whiskey on a fence post
7 reviewsNose: almost a little lacking, especially compared to the huge taste on this. Only the slightest hint of woodsmoke on the nose, and then just soft sugar and almost a really distant lavender.
Palate: sooo sweet and juicy. Honey, lavender, big citrus, more honey, and then just a perfectly balanced smoked meat. This is the honey glazed burnt end of mezcal.
Finish: lingering sugar, I’m drooling. Slight drying on the top center of the tongue, but nothing to at all remind you that this is a spirit proofed over 90. This bottle could disappear quick if I didn’t keep it tucked back.
Nose: almost a little lacking, especially compared to the huge taste on this. Only the slightest hint of woodsmoke on the nose, and then just soft sugar and almost a really distant lavender.
Palate: sooo sweet and juicy. Honey, lavender, big citrus, more honey, and then just a perfectly balanced smoked meat. This is the honey glazed burnt end of mezcal.
Finish: lingering sugar, I’m drooling. Slight drying on the top center of the tongue, but nothing to at all remind you that this is a sp
Jordan
11 reviewsTried this at Mexico in a Bottle in Denver and went back for more twice. It was my favorite of the day of a lot of great stuff. Plenty of earth and must but really easy to drink. Very distinct and long aftertaste that kept me coming back for more.
Tyler
665 reviewsEnjoyed this a lot. Distilled and fermented in clay. Have had others from this producer at In Situ and they are delicious. The Penca Verde reminded me of an old leather book along with lemony brine. Need to try more. This batch was the first one imported into the US.
Joseph
26 reviewsI’m a huge fan of Valentin Celis’ mezcals. I get aromas/flavors of tobacco, barnyard, clay, earth must, fermented/roasted agave, smoke, & honey. It is remarkably distinct, and the flavor just hangs around on your palate for quite some time.
GreenspointTexas
385 reviewsVery strange… musty smell, like mothballs mixed with mulch. Tastes like an army surplus smells. Perfect finish that lingers like sweet woodsmoke in a bbq joint. Enjoyable