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Mal Bien Bicuixe / Espadín – Cortes

Mal Bien Bicuixe / Espadín from Ageo Cortes was originally released in the US as part of Agave Mixtape Vol. 8.

Rating: (6 reviews)
Category:Destilado de Agave
Brand:Agave Mixtape, Mal Bien
Mezcalero:Ageo Cortés
Maguey:Bicuishe, Espadin
Agave:Angustifolia, Karwinskii
Grind:Tahona
Distillation:Refrescador
Style:Ensamble
State:Oaxaca
Town:Miahuatlán
ABV: 47.2%
Release year: 2021
Website: https://www.mezcalmalbien.com/, opens in new window

About this destilado de agave

Mal Bien Bicuixe / Espadín from Ageo Cortes was originally released as part of Agave Mixtape Vol. 8. Per Agave Mixtape:

This batch was made of equal parts wild bicuixe and cultivated espadín, all of which grew on a parcel of tierra cascajosa donde hay piedra laja (gravelly soil filled with slabs of flagstone) that’s owned by Ageo, and was planted by his father, Felipe. Bicuixe being the most common silvestre and espadín the most common cultivado in the region, Ageo thinks its very representative of the flavors Mengoli, and that the two magueyes, bicuixe with its earthy flavors and espadín with its sweetness, balance each other.

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.

Member rating

3.92 out of 5

6 reviews

Jonny

Jonny

700 reviews
Rated 4 out of 5 stars2 years ago

Floral and sugary on the nose. Aromas of fresh flowers, spring breeze, Pixie Sticks, and blue Airheads. The palate has notes of Red Hots candies, Canada mints, and cream cheese frosting. The cinnamon spice on this is unmistakable. A really solid release.

Tyler

Tyler

638 reviews
Rated 4 out of 5 stars2 years ago

Some of those classic Cortes notes (see: minerality). Big time sugar and minerals. More sugar on this one.. like rock candy. The Bicuixe comes in on the finish.. dry and a bit pungent but a great balance to the sweet Espadin. As others have noted, there is a faint lactic note in the background. The finish lingers on the tongue. Agave Mixtape volume 8 batch.

Edit: After sipping again I’m going to bump up my rating a bit. It is really nice and fresh compared to some of the other mezcals I have sipped this evening.

Some of those classic Cortes notes (see: minerality). Big time sugar and minerals. More sugar on this one.. like rock candy. The Bicuixe comes in on the finish.. dry and a bit pungent but a great balance to the sweet Espadin. As others have noted, there is a faint lactic note in the background. The finish lingers on the tongue. Agave Mixtape volume 8 batch.
Edit: After sipping again I’m going to bump up my rating a bit. It is really nice and fresh compared to some of the other mezcals I ha

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COak

COak

228 reviews
Rated 4 out of 5 stars2 years ago

The standout of agave mixtape vol 8. On the nose and palate, I get dark fruit, coffee, and lactic notes. The espadin provides a sweetness to the dry characteristics of bicuixe.

RyeAmLegend

RyeAmLegend

37 reviews
Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars2 years ago

The nose has this mild lactic quality funk to it. There’s a lot of savory spices. The spice is so distinct, I think you could pull them out instantly. Full of all these botanicals, seeds and herbs. Cinnamon, clove and anise. A bright sweet onion scent. Woodsy grasses and a small touch of salinity.

I had quite a bizarre reaction on the first sip of this mezcal. It was a shock to the palate like expecting to have a glass of soda and instead you take a sip of soy sauce. A ton of these spiced meat savory flavors. It’s still the same distinct spice notes I got on the nose. It tastes almost deliberate like a pechuga. Finally there is a short burst of sweetness that tastes like demerara sugar.

Very pleasant to sip. Dried lumber and those spice flavors following through on to the finish. Bitter salad greens. Herbal tea. With more air this went from a more bitter spirits to a balanced and even slightly sweet.

I’m really glad I gave this one more air time to mature in the glass. It was really rather enjoyable but you wouldn’t have experienced those flavors had you not known to let it sit for a while.

The nose has this mild lactic quality funk to it. There’s a lot of savory spices. The spice is so distinct, I think you could pull them out instantly. Full of all these botanicals, seeds and herbs. Cinnamon, clove and anise. A bright sweet onion scent. Woodsy grasses and a small touch of salinity.
I had quite a bizarre reaction on the first sip of this mezcal. It was a shock to the palate like expecting to have a glass of soda and instead you take a sip of soy sauce. A ton of these spiced meat

Read more
GreenspointTexas

GreenspointTexas

385 reviews
Rated 4 out of 5 stars2 years ago

I feel like the Espadin in this is a great addition. Def makes it more approachable to me. Moar from Cortes’ family plz

Zack Klamn

Zack Klamn

542 reviews
Rated 4 out of 5 stars2 years ago

Nose – Flower petals. Rolling tobacco. Candy sugar. A lactic note way in the background.

Palate – Floral. Candy sweet (but not overpowering). A little bit less than medium viscosity – but by no means thin. There is a subtle creaminess that is really nice! This expression is smokier than most but it’s great – a quality smoke. This ensamble is kick ass!

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