Maguey Melate Tobaziche from Felix Cruz Angeles is made in the small, beautiful community of Santa Catarina Minas, Oaxaca.
About this destilado de agave
Maguey Melate Tobaziche from Felix Cruz Angeles was first released as the July 2020 Mezcalero of the Month Club agave spirit. The maguey Tobaziche (agave Karwinskii) used in this mezcal are wild harvested after taking 15 years to reach maturity. The agave were milled by hand with wooden mallets and double distilled in a clay pot still.
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.
Review this bottle
Login or create an account to add your tasting notes
Azi
40 reviewsnose: buttery and funky.Lime Zest. The mouth tho!!!!
All the same is there, but with tons of springtime aliums, wet grass, windowsill herbs…Smells you might get if you live in the countryside during spring. I live in NYC, so i can be wrong. there’s a pretty cool blast of minerality and stone as it sits i my cup
t8ke
144 reviewsSweet at first – notes of buttercream and honey – before a bovine sized hammer slams into your palate. Pepper, slate, garlic and onion, notes of beef broth. Rich on the palate, a bit more balanced than some other Tobaziche I’ve had recently.
Still a beef broth bomb, but better than some recent other Tob’s.
il1
12 reviewsvery ‘thanksgiving’ – yams, cinnamon, spices, clay gives a thick mouthfeel
stigibeu
33 reviewsSweet potato, roasted agave. Pretty full palate with more green veggies, although not as green as a tepeztate, for example. Some pear fruit here too. well hidden alcohol. I love the pizza seasoning take below too, can definitely detect these elements. Pretty refreshing! 4.25.
Jonah Dempcy
2 reviewsNose – Pickled, sour, meaty, fruit pulp, wet paper, wet dog, brine, pickled meats, rotting. Notes of witch hazel and cherry.
Taste – Pungent. Sweet. Resinous. Gummy. Flavors of anise, licorice, minty numbing. Cinnamon. Clean, light, oily mouthfeel, like citrus oil. Bright, quick arrival. Ends with bitter, astringent dark notes and witch hazel finish. Smooth, easy drinker.
Foster
10 reviewsFunky to the smell. I think milky or cheesy in a way. Really has grown on my over the past month or so. Maybe it is just me but the funkiness of this is something I really enjoy. To taste, some espresso, cream cheese and sourness. Yes, I know sounds weird but really enjoyed.
Gregg T&T
100 reviewsGreen and herbal nose – celery, dill, mint. Spice and wet earth with light notes of grilled protein and clay earthiness.
TheAuditor
38 reviewsBatch: FEL-TOB-001
Nose: Pungent and savory. Olives, oregano, cooked spinach, saffron, cream cheese
Palate: Oily full mouthfeel. Olives, oregano, clay and earthy. Minerality, cooked greens, slight smoked pork, cheese funk.
Finish: Medium length, warm, savory spices, olives, saline, slight smoked pork
This stuff is delicious, weird, and unique. Tons of savory spices here, lots of olive, pepper, oregano, it’s like pizza seasoning in a bottle with some slight greenness and meatiness to go with it.
Batch: FEL-TOB-001
Nose: Pungent and savory. Olives, oregano, cooked spinach, saffron, cream cheese
Palate: Oily full mouthfeel. Olives, oregano, clay and earthy. Minerality, cooked greens, slight smoked pork, cheese funk.
Finish: Medium length, warm, savory spices, olives, saline, slight smoked pork
This stuff is delicious, weird, and unique. Tons of savory spices here, lots of olive, pepper, oregano, it’s like pizza seasoning in a bottle with some slight greenness and meatiness to go with it
cwheaton
1 reviewFEL-TOB-001, btl 256
Rye bread/banana bread; cream and caramel; some black olives; cinnamon; cantaloupe; not super fruity on the nose and mouth but a back end buzz of Mandarin orange; sweet and viscous; comes across as very well balanced; enjoyed this little 375 over a period of a month and it was continuously evolving and deepening in flavor. So easy to drink! – not sure how long a 750 would last me…
Jonny
708 reviewsVegetal aromas mixing with hints of wet clay, fresh lime, and decomposing leaves. There’s a wet element to the nose on this. The palate has some allspice, clove, more wet clay, and a bit of grilled red meat. It’s hard to believe this producer is so young. The age and antiquity of the region is so present on this. Need to try more from him if/when it becomes available.
Spirit_Buff
11 reviewsMezcal Review #9 – Maguey Melate Tobasiche (July 2020 Club Pick)
Agave: Tobasiche
Mezcalero: Felix Cruz Angeles
Region: Santa Catarina Minas
Still Type: Clay Pot
47.7% ABV
Additional Info: The pinas were hand crushed, a task which is apparently especially arduous when working with tobasiche.
Nose: Savory and mineral. Pineapple, lime, fried meat (think gyros or donner), roasted tomato, and mint. Also kind of a grassy/herbal thing that reminds me of some rhum agricole and New Zealand sauv. blanc – by which I mean gooseberries – by which I mean cat piss. This is a wild nose, I dig it.
Taste: Savory and dry for a mezcal. Very brothy before it turns minty and nicely sour. Hard not to think of pho. With some air a chocolate note comes out along with cream cheese frosting.
Finish: Meaty and spicy, those gyros are making a return. The clay slowly takes over and the whole thing becomes very mineral. Very nice, makes you go back for another sip.
Notes: Ooooh boy, I love this. Tasting it side by side with last month’s Tobala/Mexicano I may have been too generous in assigning that one an 8, it’s a tad rough in comparison. This however certainly merits a high score.
Score: 8/10
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: Not sure, stay tuned.
Mezcal Review #9 – Maguey Melate Tobasiche (July 2020 Club Pick)
Agave: Tobasiche
Mezcalero: Felix Cruz Angeles
Region: Santa Catarina Minas
Still Type: Clay Pot
47.7% ABV
Additional Info: The pinas were hand crushed, a task which is apparently especially arduous when working with tobasiche.
Nose: Savory and mineral. Pineapple, lime, fried meat (think gyros or donner), roasted tomato, and mint. Also kind of a grassy/herbal thing that reminds me of some rhum agricole and New Zealand sauv. blan
TrogdordeFuegoanator
40 reviewsThis was the second of the round of three I opened. Gave it a nice sniff and got some texture on the nose that felt promising. Then gulped it a bit and was extremely underwhelmed by the lack of vibrancy. Verbena, sure. Canela, yeah. But otherwise nothing really going on.
Rakhal
421 reviewsBaking spices. Cinnamon, allspice, clove. Wet clay, wet leaves, forest floor, dark chocolate, espresso. Classic Minas Largo. I love it.
GreenspointTexas
385 reviewsPeeked ahead to next months MM release…. Tobaziche, one of my favorite varietals. This is exceptional… wheatgrass, plum, Mrs Butterworths syrup, green apple. Dang this has a lot going on! Wish this particular release was bigger than a 375.
El-Dawg
209 reviewsThis is definitely clay distilled. Funky throughout with minerality on the nose. Good heat and spice…smooth finish that lingers nicely with some heat in back of throat and on cheeks. Some sweetness and fruit notes which help compliment the earthiness. Still getting used to A. karwinskiis….not my favorite agave type, and not my favorite of this agave. FYI – the mezcalero is only 25, so I appreciate the ambitiousness with this one at such a relative young age. Bottle 326
This is definitely clay distilled. Funky throughout with minerality on the nose. Good heat and spice…smooth finish that lingers nicely with some heat in back of throat and on cheeks. Some sweetness and fruit notes which help compliment the earthiness. Still getting used to A. karwinskiis….not my favorite agave type, and not my favorite of this agave. FYI – the mezcalero is only 25, so I appreciate the ambitiousness with this one at such a relative young age. Bottle 326
SwatSaladin
19 reviewsBatch Number FEL-TOB-001
Nose: Tomato paste is backed up by a gentle bouquet of mango and lime—there’s certainly a feint savory element here. Fresh waxy corn also comes through very distinctly. Really bright acidity all throughout—also kind of funky, like a good skin contact wine. As a whole package, I can only describe this as being reminiscent of fresh corn salsa, or a grilled corn Pico de Gallo.
Palate: This is knock-your-socks off good. The spirit itself is quite unctuous. I’m getting a hint of lactic influence, which is quickly engulfed by more garden herbs, fresh tomato, and waxy corn. Overall, the profile is earthy and ‘green’ (anise, eucalyptus).
Finish: The finish just goes on and on with this one. The garden herbs really persist, and the yoghurt-y lactic component makes a reappearance as well.
This is quickly becoming one of my favorite mezcals. It’s complex and balanced, and brings a lot of interesting aromas and notes to the table. It even sticks the landing!
Batch Number FEL-TOB-001
Nose: Tomato paste is backed up by a gentle bouquet of mango and lime—there’s certainly a feint savory element here. Fresh waxy corn also comes through very distinctly. Really bright acidity all throughout—also kind of funky, like a good skin contact wine. As a whole package, I can only describe this as being reminiscent of fresh corn salsa, or a grilled corn Pico de Gallo.
Palate: This is knock-your-socks off good. The spirit itself is quite unctuous. I’m gettin