Mal Bien Puntas de Sierra Negra is made by legendary producer Victor Ramos in Mengolí de Morelos, Miahuatlán, Oaxaca.
About this destilado de agave
Mal Bien Puntas de Sierra Negra is made with the rare maguey Sierra Negra (Agave americana). The Sierra Negra used in this batch were purchased from a magueyero in Xitlapehua, a community just a few minutes east of the Ramos ranch in Mengolí. While the Ramos’ new palenque is up and running, there are no plans to retire the old palenque any time soon. Depending on how busy he and Emanuel are, Victor continues to use the old stills and tinas as well as the new ones.
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
les_
27 reviewsorange, apple, raspberry, lime peel, kale, jalapeño, wheatgrass, lemon balm
Ben P
110 reviewsAgave Mixtape batch
Nose: crisp veggies, woody and pine, lime, fruits start to open up as it sits and become more orange forward, melon rind, lemongrass, I get the green apple Goldie mentioned
Palate: this is where it shines. Fruit forward, orange juice, tart apple, watermelon rind, honeydew, coconut. Finish is eucalyptus, pine, citrus rind. Charred peppers, honey
I side by sided this with the regular batch of MB Sierra I had (from Emmanuel). The thing that stuck out was the fruit on the palate. Where the nonpuntas batch had more minerality this puntas is full of fruit forward notes.
Edit: as I sip (post review) I definitely am getting the Apples cereal like Apple Jacks. Fun stuff
Agave Mixtape batch
Nose: crisp veggies, woody and pine, lime, fruits start to open up as it sits and become more orange forward, melon rind, lemongrass, I get the green apple Goldie mentioned
Palate: this is where it shines. Fruit forward, orange juice, tart apple, watermelon rind, honeydew, coconut. Finish is eucalyptus, pine, citrus rind. Charred peppers, honey
I side by sided this with the regular batch of MB Sierra I had (from Emmanuel). The thing that stuck out was the fruit on the palate.
Goldyieglockz
3 reviewsNose: Vegetal, Granny Smith, Cantaloupe, Celery, Cheese, Molasses, Apple O’s
Taste: Apple O’s, Granny Smith Apples, slight Lactose, Caramel Apple, Molasses.
Synopsis: What an absolute treat. This Sierra Negra from the Ramos family does not taste like it should clock in at 60%. Truly dangerous. Going into trying my first Puntas i expected a harsh, alcohol heavy nose and palate, but am pleasantly surprised. I’m just a gringo from the East Coast so to me this expression tastes like a green candy apple at the state fair, dipped in the terroir of Oaxaca. Sweet, Vegetal, Green Fruit palate. I would love to sit this Puntas next to a bottle of Real Minero Barril, they are uncannily similar. This puntas is everything you want it to be, and I thinks it’s delicious.
¡Salud!
Rating: 97/100
Nose: Vegetal, Granny Smith, Cantaloupe, Celery, Cheese, Molasses, Apple O’s
Taste: Apple O’s, Granny Smith Apples, slight Lactose, Caramel Apple, Molasses.
Synopsis: What an absolute treat. This Sierra Negra from the Ramos family does not taste like it should clock in at 60%. Truly dangerous. Going into trying my first Puntas i expected a harsh, alcohol heavy nose and palate, but am pleasantly surprised. I’m just a gringo from the East Coast so to me this expression tastes like a green ca