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Maguey Melate Tobala – Abel Quiroz

Maguey Melate Tobala from Abel Quiroz is the first wild agave from this maestro mezcalero to be released outside of Mexico.

Rating: (10 reviews)
Category:Destilado de Agave
Brand:Maguey Melate
Mezcalero:Abel Quiroz
Maguey:Tobala
Agave:Potatorum
Milling:Shredder
Style:Joven
State:Oaxaca
Town:Sola de Vega
ABV: 46.4%
Age of plant: 6 years
Release year: 2020
Website: https://www.magueymelate.com/, opens in new window

About this destilado de agave

Maguey Melate Tobala from Abel Quiroz was originally released as the September 2020 Mezcalero of the Month Club agave spirit. The maguey Tobala (agave Potatorum) used in this mezcal are wild, having a relatively large size and short maturity time in the climate of Sola de Vega. The majority of the Tobala in this initial batch were capon, meaning that the quiote was cut off, allowing the sugars to concentrate in the agave piña before it was harvested. For this batch, the agaves were left to sit for over a year before being harvested.

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.

Member rating

3.5 out of 5

10 reviews

Zack Klamn

Zack Klamn

542 reviews
Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars2 years ago

Batch: ABE-TOB-001 (Bottle: 250)
Nose – A hot ceramic oven. Grape Nerds candy. Vanilla.

Palate – Thin and light to start, flavors kick in after a couple seconds. Creamy – but a bit off / sour. A barnyard, hay funk to it. Rubbery and grassy finish. This tobala doesn’t do it for me.

t8ke

t8ke

144 reviews
Rated 4 out of 5 stars4 years ago

Sweet on the palate with plenty of cream sweetness and fruit. Melon, citrus zest, papaya. The clay is also evident, bringing plenty of savory earthy notes along with a hint of pepper and salinity. Powerful combination that delivers really nicely.

Huge fan of this Tobala, exceptional delivery.

TheAgaveFairy

TheAgaveFairy

169 reviews
Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars4 years ago

Tasted blind.

Coming from an El Jolgorio Tobala, this is a little funkier and greener immediately. Almost some of those raicilla-like “cheese and herbs” tones. White wine vinegar (though a pleasant and round one) as a fruit tone along with pear (white Haribo), vegetal agave, dried flowers, carrots, lemon peel, mildest wormwood. Good complexity! A little harsh or out of balance at the moment on the nose.

Acidic entry, lighter palate. Herbal and green for sure, with a peppercorn melange showing up gently. More wormwood tones, soft goat cheese, less fruit if any really, and that all fades into a hot and white pepper driven finish that’s thankfully not too long. Oddly tastes great on the sides of my tongue, isn’t that not supposed to be a thing?

Not really a fan, can’t really figure out what it might be neither.

5/10 on the t8le scale. There’s something cool going on in there, I can’t figure out what. Overall, this is stark and hot. Very complex and engaging, and something that’s probably “worth trying” but not something I’d reach for.

Tasted blind.
Coming from an El Jolgorio Tobala, this is a little funkier and greener immediately. Almost some of those raicilla-like “cheese and herbs” tones. White wine vinegar (though a pleasant and round one) as a fruit tone along with pear (white Haribo), vegetal agave, dried flowers, carrots, lemon peel, mildest wormwood. Good complexity! A little harsh or out of balance at the moment on the nose.
Acidic entry, lighter palate. Herbal and green for sure, with a peppercorn melange showin

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Spirit_Buff

Spirit_Buff

11 reviews
Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars4 years ago

Mezcal Review #11 – Maguey Melate Tobala (September 2020 Club Pick)

Agave: Tobala

Mezcalero: Juan Abel Quiroz Agustin

Region: Santa Maria, Sola de Vega

Still Type: Clay Pot

46.9% ABV

Additional Info: This mezcalero only drinks Espadin after his doctor told him that Tobala had too many nutrients and was making his stomach upset (so sayeth the Maguey Melate Instagram account!)

Nose: Oooooooh awesome, great intensity. Savory, floral, fruity, dusty, and smokey. Smoked meats, lime skin, clay, and orange blossoms.

Taste: Creamy and thick, good lactic sweetness (cream cheese frosting). Fresh lime juice with mint. Turns more coastal with seashells, brine, lemon, and a little vanilla. Malty black tea sans tannins and sandalwood.

Finish: Smoked mints turning into a sweet mineral/clay note after a few seconds.

Notes: This is very good (or else I’m just a sucker for clay pot mezcals). I liked the clay pot tobasiche a couple months back just a hair better than this, but just barely. Keep it up Melate!

Score: 7/10

1 | Disgusting | So bad I poured it out.
2 | Poor | I wouldn’t consume by choice.
3 | Bad | Multiple flaws.
4 | Sub-par | Not bad, but better exists.
5 | Good | Good, just fine.
6 | Very Good | A cut above.
7 | Great | Well above average
8 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional.
9 | Incredible | An all time favorite
10 | Perfect | Perfect

Next Up: NETA Espadin (Agave Mixtape Volume 1)

Mezcal Review #11 – Maguey Melate Tobala (September 2020 Club Pick)
Agave: Tobala
Mezcalero: Juan Abel Quiroz Agustin
Region: Santa Maria, Sola de Vega
Still Type: Clay Pot
46.9% ABV
Additional Info: This mezcalero only drinks Espadin after his doctor told him that Tobala had too many nutrients and was making his stomach upset (so sayeth the Maguey Melate Instagram account!)
Nose: Oooooooh awesome, great intensity. Savory, floral, fruity, dusty, and smokey. Smoked meats, lime skin, clay, and o

Read more
Rakhal

Rakhal

430 reviews
Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars4 years ago

Clay mustiness, Demerara sugar, cedar planks, white pepper, quinine, gentian root, strawberry soda, cinnamon, tobacco, allspice. I like it.

Gregg T&T

Gregg T&T

100 reviews
Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars4 years ago

Cinnamon, wet earth, dill and mineral notes. Baking spices, some mustiness and some peppery spiciness with a good body.

El Dawg

El Dawg

227 reviews
Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars4 years ago

This is a unique tobala. Not getting the sweetness & flavors I would expect from this agave. The clay seems to also mellow it out a bit, although the taste doesn’t have overt minerality. Light butter, some green/vegetal in the taste. Good spice & smoke balance, but hard to rate this one higher for Melate when compared with the companion Tep. bottle.

Millmill

Millmill

2 reviews
Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars4 years ago

Spice, cinnamon, vegetal, leather/wood on palate. Tar on the finish, but sweat and not unpleasant. Not the smoothest Tobala I’ve had, but interesting complexity.

GreenspointTexas

GreenspointTexas

385 reviews
Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars4 years ago

Cant help but break this open early. One of the better Tobala’s ive had. Double Bubble, saddle blanket, thyme and peaches. Well integrated, smooth as silk.

donpedro

donpedro

39 reviews
Rated 4 out of 5 stars4 years ago

Nose is full of wood, pepper, cinnamon Altoids, baking spice, wildflower honey, and roasted agave. There’s a hint of tire rubber as well, somewhat similar to some Cenizos I’ve had.

Loads more cinnamon and baking spice on the palate, with notes of leather and tobacco as well. As it oxidizes, there’s some almond nougat flavors that come out as well, but this is definitely spicy first and foremost.

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