Mal Bien Madrecuixe – Ramos is made by the father-son duo Victor and Emanuel Ramos, who have been producing for brands like Mezcaloteca (Mezcalosfera) for many years
About this destilado de agave
Mal Bien Madrecuixe – Ramos 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.). 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 agave Madrecuixe (Karwinskii) used in this mezcal are cooked for 8-10 days in an underground pit oven with Encino and Mesquite. Once cooked, the agave rest 3-5 days before being mashed by ox drawn tahona. They’re fermented with open air yeasts for 3-8 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.
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Jam
100 reviews47.9% abv, batch 0122VtR
Review #92: nose is sweet leather, wax, metallic, light earthiness, a touch of fresh cut wood, tons of sweet florals, powdery perfume, and canteloupe. Palate is corn, burnt peach, fresh cantaloupe, orange oils, more florals, sweet mint, and some carmelized veggies on the finish.
Very easygoing and a bit delicate. Really good flavors overall but they are definitely on the softer side with the florals as the main note on the nose, and a rather light and sweet palate. I could easily drink this all day.
47.9% abv, batch 0122VtR
Review #92: nose is sweet leather, wax, metallic, light earthiness, a touch of fresh cut wood, tons of sweet florals, powdery perfume, and canteloupe. Palate is corn, burnt peach, fresh cantaloupe, orange oils, more florals, sweet mint, and some carmelized veggies on the finish.
Very easygoing and a bit delicate. Really good flavors overall but they are definitely on the softer side with the florals as the main note on the nose, and a rather light and sweet palate. I cou
BKbobby
6 reviewsIn general, when I think of Karwinskiis, I think of piney flavors. There’s some of that greenness in the background, but it’s buried under a ton of sweet, fruit forward notes that remind me Dr. Brown’s Cel-Ray soda, than a classic mezcal. Really playful on the first sip, and continued on to the last.
Gregg T&T
100 reviewsSweet and floral nose – vegetal notes and underlying tropical fruit. Bright and full mouthfeel, more citrus notes and a sweet heat through the finish.
Tyler
625 reviewsInteresting to taste this between the Verde and Tobaziche. It falls somewhere in the middle for me. The mid-palate taste is like sugar cube slate.
Jonny
682 reviewsAromas of sweet corn, turnips, and strong grape soda. Palate has more grape soda, menthol, and lots fruit flavor candy canes. Very fruity and sweet forward.
kozinnski
14 reviewsSweet corn, snap peas, roasted agave, vinegar-based bbq sauce, young carrots. Sweet and delicious.