Mal Bien Alto is the brand's first release produced by Don Isidro Rodriguez Montoya in Rio de Parras, Michoacán.
About this destilado de agave
Mal Bien Alto is produced by Don Isidro Rodriguez Montoya in Rio de Parras, Michoacán. Don Isidro’s Alto defies a lot of stereotypes of mezcal from Michoacán, specifically its clean, mineral-driven character, and lack of funky lactic notes. Isidro avoids the cheesy notes by creating relatively fast fermentations. Some producers in the region will ferment for 30+ days, while Isidro ferments for just 8-10 days. He achieves this by adding a couple liters of pulque to every thousand liters of mashed agave. Don Isidro is a first generation Mezcalero who didn’t take up the craft of distilling agave until he was 19 years old. After sharing the communal vinata for 14 years, he built his own vinata in 2015, where he currently distills all his agave.
This Mal Bien Alto was released both as an independent bottle and as part of Agave Mixtape Volume 3.
Agave Mixtape
Agave Mixtape brings the best agave spirits together in one place – your place. Agave Mixtape is a subscription based service. Subscribers receive boxes with three 200ml bottles from three different brands – Lalocura, Mal Bien, and Neta (and maybe a few surprises) – filled with batches picked especially for Agave Mixtape, and not available anywhere else in the USA. Each box includes production notes on the batches, along with links to photos, and virtual tastings with the people behind the brands and the mezcaleros. You can subscribe directly from their website.
Mal Bien
Since 2016, the Mal Bien team has been traveling Mexico, driving off the map and into mountains filled with treacherous roads, police officers of questionable moral character, feral dogs, indigenous languages, narcos, ancient relics, machete wielding protestors, insect based meals, mudslides, blockades, corrupt politicians, and many of the world’s kindest, funniest, most brilliant people. In addition to some hard to believe stories, they’ve connected with a wide variety of traditional producers, whose mezcal is now bottled and exported under the Mal Bien name.
Review this bottle
Login or create an account to add your tasting notes
HighWine
76 reviewsThis is amazingly unique and delicious. Honeydew, cantaloupe, and cucumber fragrances hit big on the nose with a hint of ash when you look for it. Taste is much more Earthy and less fruity than the nose. Potting soil, clay, and smoke from wet leaves dominate along with faint sweetness that resembles burnt pie crust. Medium bodied and slightly oily in the mouth. One of the more interesting agave expressions you’ll have.
rsidrys
50 reviewsAbsolutely delightful! At first whiff, I could tell this had something unique about it. I’m assuming this is because I’ve had little exposure to spirits from Michoacán.
It’s super clean, but definitely not sterile. Has a nice play between minerality and fruitiness. I have to give credit to the reviewer who said freeze-dried strawberries…spot on! It has complexity too, but instead of trying to put my finger on all those notes, I’m just going to sit back and enjoy this one for whatever it is.
I had a sample sent to me as part of a virtual tasting. I bought a bottle online before the night was over. Amazing price point!
Absolutely delightful! At first whiff, I could tell this had something unique about it. I’m assuming this is because I’ve had little exposure to spirits from Michoacán.
It’s super clean, but definitely not sterile. Has a nice play between minerality and fruitiness. I have to give credit to the reviewer who said freeze-dried strawberries…spot on! It has complexity too, but instead of trying to put my finger on all those notes, I’m just going to sit back and enjoy this one for whate
Jonny
708 reviewsBatch:1019IRM. Look at the legs on this! Aromas of apple juice, blue airheads, new Legos, guava, and just a touch of soft cheese. Palate notes of leather, guava, cloves, strawberries, and apple cider. There’s this element of new clothing or new fabric that is nice and unexpected. This mezcal is almost sticky on the palate. It’s light, but the finish is long. I’m really enjoying this. The more I sip it, the more strawberry and berry notes open on the palate.
SwatSaladin
19 reviewsBatch 1019IRM. The nose checks a lot of boxes. Strong underripe melon rind that flirts with cucumber (specifically, boiled cucumber), so fresh and so mouth-watering! Really delicate sweetness, like powdered sugar or freeze-dried strawberries. I can see the argument for caramelized onions on the nose, too. The palate blows me away. An absolute explosion of fleshy and juicy red berries especially strawberry, accompanied by spearmint goodness. This is just crazy delicious. Did someone say strawberry shortcake generously garnished with mint? The finish is long, tingly, and prominently features herbaceous mint that gives way to a really pleasant fruity sweetness.
This absolutely blew me away. I would be happy to drink this nearly every day of the week. Everything about the flavor profile just clicks with me. I’m not getting any of the savory notes I’ve heard many mention, but I sure wish I had a bottle to revisit and see it evolve.
Batch 1019IRM. The nose checks a lot of boxes. Strong underripe melon rind that flirts with cucumber (specifically, boiled cucumber), so fresh and so mouth-watering! Really delicate sweetness, like powdered sugar or freeze-dried strawberries. I can see the argument for caramelized onions on the nose, too. The palate blows me away. An absolute explosion of fleshy and juicy red berries especially strawberry, accompanied by spearmint goodness. This is just crazy delicious. Did someone say strawberr
Rakhal
421 reviewsUpdate #2: Batch: Agave Mixtape Vol. #3.
4 stars. November 2019 and there is quite a difference! It’s got the new car smell, tennis balls and cedar, sandalwood and some white grape juice but comes across as thinner and less complex than the October batch. It’s still damn good though.
Mal Bien full bottle October 2019 Batch:1019IRM.
Update: As I’ve made my way through this bottle I just love it more and more, so I’ve upped my rating to five stars.
Wow. It’s hard for me to describe this one. Every time I taste it it’s different. There’s something that reminds me of “new car smell”, new vinyl upholstery, new tennis balls, over ripe pineapple, guava agua fresca, cinnamon, clove, wet garden soil, hay, cedar wood, sandalwood, white grape juice. I haven’t gotten any of the lactic or savory notes that donpedro got but they’ll probably be there next time I drink it. A chameleon Mezcal.
Update #2: Batch: Agave Mixtape Vol. #3.
4 stars. November 2019 and there is quite a difference! It’s got the new car smell, tennis balls and cedar, sandalwood and some white grape juice but comes across as thinner and less complex than the October batch. It’s still damn good though.
Mal Bien full bottle October 2019 Batch:1019IRM.
Update: As I’ve made my way through this bottle I just love it more and more, so I’ve upped my rating to five stars.
Wow. It’s hard for me to describe this
donpedro
39 reviewsCotija cheese, refried beans, and bacon fat on the nose. Bit of something medicinal in the background that I can’t quite make out – somewhat Tiger Balm/menthol. More cheese and pork lard funk on the palate with some dill and pepper. Personally, this is not up my alley, but it is still high quality juice for those that prefer these notes.