Maguey Melate Cupreata from Benigno Sánchez Gatica was originally released as the November 2023 Mezcalero of the Month Club agave spirit.
About this destilado de agave
Maguey Melate Cupreata from Benigno Sánchez Gatica was originally released as the November 2023 Mezcalero of the Month Club agave spirit. For the month of November 2023, club members received one of three different Cupreata (Papalote) batches: 1) Erasto’s Papalotes come from the northern part of Guerrero near the La Cuenca del Balsas River, 2) Benigno’s purely capon’d Cupreatas come from the humid oak and pine forests and take 10-18 years to reach maturity, or 3) Faustino’s cultivated Papalotes are in a slightly less humid, warm forest region.
All three of these releases come from the Sanzekan Cooperativa that started in 1990 with products like corn and beans, and eventually expanded to include mezcal in the early 2000s.
Maguey Melate
Maguey Melate was founded on two ideas: 1) Artisanal agave spirits are amazing and should be shared with the world, and 2) The faster-cheaper economy is a harmful force for people, the environment, and now agave spirits.
They believe if mezcal (and agave spirits) can be understood and appreciated at its full potential, people will show their preference for quality artisanal mezcal that is sustainably and fairly sourced. By raising consumer consciousness on the origins of mezcal and educating enthusiasts on matters of quality and character, informed people will be empowered to ensure the future of mezcal. To do this, they’re reaching a large audience with an impactful message: KEEP MEZCAL ARTISANAL!
Maguey Melate is perhaps most well-known for their Mezcalero of the Month Club, which delivers artisanal small-batch agave spirits directly to the doors of consumers in the US and Mexico. In addition to the monthly spirits, they offer exclusive content and interviews with producers. Single releases are also available in the Maguey Melate shop.
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Jonny
708 reviewsDon Beni at his finest. Aromas of new tennis balls, freshly cut grass, dry hay, watermelon, dates, figs, and serrano peppers. The palate is bursting with flavor. Tasting notes of cantaloupe, honeydew melon, strawberry cream, dates, and cucumber. This is so soft and delicate in mouthfeel, yet intense, flavorful, and aromatic. I’m absolutely loving this.
Ben P
110 reviewsNose: Bananas, Papaya, mango pith, hard candies, mesquite, burnt banana leaves, freshly cleaned carpet, figs
Palate & finish: Mango and passionfruit up front, grapefruit juice, this stuff is incredible, melon, then tangy lemonade and leather, lavender, stone and slate moving into the finish. Finish is terrific. Tart custard and citruses, some cumin, minerals, clean asphalt, old plastic (like Jam mentioned) but in the best way possible, basil, rosemary
This is excellent. Love this stuff and wish I had a full bottle.
Nose: Bananas, Papaya, mango pith, hard candies, mesquite, burnt banana leaves, freshly cleaned carpet, figs
Palate & finish: Mango and passionfruit up front, grapefruit juice, this stuff is incredible, melon, then tangy lemonade and leather, lavender, stone and slate moving into the finish. Finish is terrific. Tart custard and citruses, some cumin, minerals, clean asphalt, old plastic (like Jam mentioned) but in the best way possible, basil, rosemary
This is excellent. Love this stuff and w
Manning
24 reviewsAroma: fresh tennis balls, strawberry gushers and strawberry seeds, kiwi, new car smell. I keep coming back to the aroma over and over because there is a smell I can’t place but something that is very familiar to me. I agree with Jam in the review before mine that the aroma is intoxicating.
Taste: Wow, it’s an intense flavor of candy that I remember from my childhood but can’t place. Perhaps some sort of strawberry candy (similar to gushers but not that). It’s not too sweet and has a nice acidity to balance out the sweetness. The finish is very long with the lingering strawberry candy flavor and a slight funk to help round out the flavors.
Overall: Incredible 9.7/10
Aroma: fresh tennis balls, strawberry gushers and strawberry seeds, kiwi, new car smell. I keep coming back to the aroma over and over because there is a smell I can’t place but something that is very familiar to me. I agree with Jam in the review before mine that the aroma is intoxicating.
Taste: Wow, it’s an intense flavor of candy that I remember from my childhood but can’t place. Perhaps some sort of strawberry candy (similar to gushers but not that). It’s not too sw
Jam
156 reviewsReview #80: The nose has rubber, fresh hay, plastic ball pit, leather, just a weird funk, wildflowers, honeydew, watermelon jolly ranchers, sour gummy bears. On the palate i get plastic, candle wax, watermelon candy, gummy bears, fresh honeydew, lemongrass, juicy cucumber, and black pepper on the finish.
My, oh my. This is so weird. I side by sided with a couple other papalote and this really stood out. Very strong nose on this. A sweet old plastic aroma mixed in with an array of fruits really dominates your nose. That might not sound too good on paper, but i find it intoxicating just to smell. The nose may even be my favorite part of it. But the palate is no slouch either, with those same mouth watering fruits and a juiciness to all of it, like biting into a fresh watery cucumber. I’ve had a good amount of cupreata at this point and this one takes the cake for me. Side note, my partner was not a big fan in the side by side, so i can imagine some “off notes” being too much for people, but i found this delightful and strange.
Review #80: The nose has rubber, fresh hay, plastic ball pit, leather, just a weird funk, wildflowers, honeydew, watermelon jolly ranchers, sour gummy bears. On the palate i get plastic, candle wax, watermelon candy, gummy bears, fresh honeydew, lemongrass, juicy cucumber, and black pepper on the finish.
My, oh my. This is so weird. I side by sided with a couple other papalote and this really stood out. Very strong nose on this. A sweet old plastic aroma mixed in with an array of fruits really d