The Marca Negra Tobala is a burly Mezcal. As a Tobala, the bar is high and Marca Negra has made this a very complex spirit by making it with such high ABV.
The Marca Negra Tobala is a burly Mezcal. At 50+% ABV, there isn’t much in US that has a higher alcohol content. Though the strength of the spirit is unavoidable, the ABV does not overpower this Mezcal. There are hints of tropical fruit flavor. As a Tobala, the bar is high for this Mezcal and Marca Negra has made this a very complex spirit by making it with such a high ABV.
If a worthy expression of traditional Mezcal is to be found in the most remote village - be it in the Oaxacan Sierra, or the desert of Durango- Marca Negra will go there to make it available for you in its true, original form. Their bottles display specific information on their label, such as the type of agave it is made of, the mezcalero who produced it, the town it was produced in, and much more information. Their mezcal is typically higher ABV as they like to bottle mezcal at the same levels that their mezcaleros choose to enjoy them. Check your bottles for details about each specific batch. Mezcal PhD did a nice blog on these guys - Mezcal Marca Negra: Good Things Are Happening
We also visited one of their mezcaleros in 2018: Mezcal Marca Negra and Pacheco Family Mezcal
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PhilBrunski
19 reviewsVery intense tobala. Like licking an agave dipped in petrol and sprinkled with cinnamon. Really great flavor but the ABV takes away from the enjoyment as you have to search for the flavor through the burn.
Patrick
13 reviewsBatch: MJ55-15
Bottle: 12/150 48.8%
Nose: tight at first, with a little smoke and vanilla then after 15 minutes it opens up with brine, notes of farmyard, lemon drops and banana.
Mouth : huge… Sweet and salty, with a little pepper. Vegetal. Very creamy.
Finnish : lingering sweetness and dry
Gfunk
13 reviewsnice long pleasant finish. A little hottter. Not as smooth as most tobala.
Tyler
267 reviewsWonderful aromas of plum and burnt cinnamon. This tobalá has some heat at 52%. Some of the typical tobalá vegetal notes are overshadowed by strong flavors of caramel, pepper, and metal. This one might need to rest longer to mellow out. Lot MJ08-14
Jonny
288 reviewsLot MJ08-14 bottle 927/1200 at 52% ABV. This is SUPER aromatic. The smell is really amazing and unique. The nose has notes of fresh banana, lime peel, tangerine, and vanilla bean. It’s a hot Tobala, much hotter than 99% of the other Tobala I’ve tried. The only Tobala that is close to this one in heat is the Mezcal Vago Tobala. Even with the heat on this, however, there’s a lot of character that shines through. It has notes of pine, orange cream, and charred plantains. The mouthfeel is full and rich. Overall, this is great stuff.
Lot MJ08-14 bottle 927/1200 at 52% ABV. This is SUPER aromatic. The smell is really amazing and unique. The nose has notes of fresh banana, lime peel, tangerine, and vanilla bean. It’s a hot Tobala, much hotter than 99% of the other Tobala I’ve tried. The only Tobala that is close to this one in heat is the Mezcal Vago Tobala. Even with the heat on this, however, there’s a lot of character that shines through. It has notes of pine, orange cream, and charred plantains. The mouth
marco
12 reviews(batch MJ08-14/ 976/1,200 bottles)
AROMA: shy aromas. hint of piney forest. sawmill. closed and soft, no hint of smoke. slowly, floral aromas unwind with hints of cocoa and toasted coconut. later, tobacco leaf, licorice and white pepper emerge.
PALATE: penetrating, immediate and assertive. alcohol driven. fierce and aggressive at first slowly resolving a broad textural grip. high octane gravel ball. still, a clean profile revealed amidst a brooding framework. deft ninja dirty bomb. muscular elegance. spikey palate resonance. heady and contemplative. (I would be curious to see Ortiz’s expression of Tobalá.)
(batch MJ08-14/ 976/1,200 bottles)
AROMA: shy aromas. hint of piney forest. sawmill. closed and soft, no hint of smoke. slowly, floral aromas unwind with hints of cocoa and toasted coconut. later, tobacco leaf, licorice and white pepper emerge.
PALATE: penetrating, immediate and assertive. alcohol driven. fierce and aggressive at first slowly resolving a broad textural grip. high octane gravel ball. still, a clean profile revealed amidst a brooding framework. deft ninja dirty bomb. muscular e