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Mal Bien Coyote

Mal Bien Coyote is made with maguey “Coyote” that is a hybrid between Madrecuixe (agave Karwinskii) and Tobala (agave Potatorum)

Rating: (5 reviews)
Category:Destilado de Agave
Cost:$$$
Brand:Mal Bien
Mezcalero:Emanuel Ramos, Victor Ramos
Maguey:Coyota
Agave:Sp
Grind:Tahona
Distillation:Refrescador
Style:Joven
State:Oaxaca
Town:Miahuatlán
ABV: 49.94%
Batch size: 262 Bottles
Website: https://www.mezcalmalbien.com/, opens in new window

About this destilado de agave

Mal Bien Coyote is made by Victor and his son Emanuel. They are the 3rd and 4th generations of the Ramos family to produce mezcal in the Miahuatlán District of Oaxaca, an area famous for its abundance and diversity of A. karwinskii sub-species (madrecuixe, tobaxiche, etc.). This maguey Coyote batch is actually made with a rare hybrid Coyote that was made when Madrecuixe (agave Karwinskii) were cross pollinated with Tobala (agave Potatorum). Other regions, like Santa Catarina Minas, will sometimes refer to this hybrid as Coyota.

The community of Mengoli de Morelos where they live and work has a population of just under 200 people. They are related to the neighboring Cortes family via Victor’s wife (Emanuel’s mother), Cleotilde, whose sister Cesilia is married to Felipe. The maguey Coyote used in this mezcal are cooked for 6 days in an underground pit oven with Encino and Mesquite. Once cooked, the agave rest 6-7 days before being mashed by ox drawn tahona. They’re fermented with open air yeasts for 4-8 days before being double distilled in a copper refrescadera still.

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

4.5 out of 5

5 reviews

SoloAgave

SoloAgave

86 reviews
Rated 5 out of 5 stars3 years ago

Visited the Ramos family palenque and had an opportunity to try around 15 expressions. I love their mezcal and I can’t say there were any that I wouldn’t rate highly. Nevertheless, I give extra credit to this Coyote produced in May 2021 because it just stood out in terms of complexity with a delicious mesquite BBQ flavor that comes across early then follows up with some baking spice, earthiness/soil, and a great finish that will have you finding new tasting notes long after each sip.

Visited the Ramos family palenque and had an opportunity to try around 15 expressions. I love their mezcal and I can’t say there were any that I wouldn’t rate highly. Nevertheless, I give extra credit to this Coyote produced in May 2021 because it just stood out in terms of complexity with a delicious mesquite BBQ flavor that comes across early then follows up with some baking spice, earthiness/soil, and a great finish that will have you finding new tasting notes long after each sip.

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meserole

meserole

73 reviews
Rated 4 out of 5 stars3 years ago

Brown sugar bbq sauce, sweet potato fries, apples. Smoky, earthy, a little hotter than expected in the mouth, but settles out with the sweetness returning at the finish. Delicious, but not in my absolute top tier, as it’s not a truly singular flavor among mezcals in my mind. Paid $96 for a bottle at Astor Wine and Spirits in NYC — for that price, probably wouldn’t be something I jump on trying again right away, though.

Gregg T&T

Gregg T&T

100 reviews
Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars3 years ago

Sweet nose of fruit compote and brown sugar. Palate switches gears and hits green and spicy karwinskii notes: bell peppers and peppercorns. Interesting and satisfying finish, has gotten better each time I’ve poured it.

El_Cura

El_Cura

31 reviews
Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars4 years ago

Sweet BBQ sauce on my nose. In the palate, grape kool-aid and vanilla bean ice cream, with a well balanced specific gravity, not to oily and not too watery. Long finish. Great mouthwash substitute.
Interesting agave description, not an Ag. Americana but some type of Karawinski/Tobala hybrid. If I didn’t know it could pass for an ensemble.

stigibeu

stigibeu

33 reviews
Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars4 years ago

Sugary sweet, vanilla and cake frosting–totally a karwinskii up front. Little hot through palate, honeysuckle, sweetness here too balanced with roasted agave, moderately long finish. Very very good.

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