The Marca Negra Tobala is a burly mezcal. As an maguey Tobala mezcal, the bar is high and Mezcal Marca Negra has made this a very complex spirit by making it with such high ABV.
About this mezcal
The Marca Negra Tobala is a burly Mezcal. Certain batches are greater than 50% ABV and there are few mezcals in the US (especially maguey Tobala) with this level of 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 and Mezcal Marca Negra has made this a very complex spirit by making it with such a high ABV.
Marca Negra Mezcal
Mezcal Marca Negra is made for all who wish to explore and embrace the ancient traditions of true mezcal. The handprint on the bottle represents the tireless work of the master distillers and the ancient knowledge that marks each and every batch. Marca Negra seeks the purest and most diverse expressions of this fantastic spirit, wherever they made be found. Due to limited batch production, the product line changes constantly. New mezcal varieties are created while others cease to exist. Mezcal Marca Negra is 48% ABV or higher because the mezcal is bottled at the alcohol level preferred by the maestro mezcaleros. Check your bottles for details about each specific batch.
Learn about Mezcal Marca Negra in these blog posts:
- Mezcal Marca Negra and Pacheco Family Mezcal on Mezcal Reviews
- Mezcal Marca Negra: Good Things Are Happening on Mezcal PhD
Review this bottle
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Zack Klamn
542 reviewsNose – Light sugar and milky notes.
Palate – Grassy, apple pie sweet but too much ethanol.
betweentwotobalas
24 reviewsBatch XJM27-17. Bottle 280/1330. 50.5% ABV.
It took some time to really appreciate this bottle. Notes of acetone, ripe bananas and mint penetrate the nose. A rich blend of oven baked custard, Kraft caramels, Brussel sprouts and black pepper numb the palate. The finish is tangy and sharp with a splash of unleaded colas, natural foam rubber and moist compost. A tasty high octane expression from Jorge Mendez.
Gregg T&T
100 reviewsBatch XJM27-17 111/1330 Leather, unripe bananas, green peppers and licorice. Really enjoyable and top 3 in the lineup for me
t8ke
144 reviewsBatch XJM27-17 and bottle 1297 / 1330
Medium viscosity on the palate but lots of flavor. Pepper and fresh baked bread are very prominent initially, along with some clay, some ash smoke and a hint of pineapple.
Overall, I like this but the complexity fades after you trek past the nose. Thats not the end of the world, but I really prefer more complexity, especially in the finish. That said, this is drinking quite well, and I think its quite alright.
Soxfan
18 reviewsMJ08-14 925/1200 This is a great example of how an already good mezcal can get even better over time. Very nice to sip and remarkably smooth for its 52%ABV. I’ve had this bottle for years and deliberately set it aside for a very long time. Yes, good back then. And yes, even better than I expected now. If I could find another bottle, I
would grab it immediately and take it home. This is an excellent expression of Tobala.
TheAgaveFairy
169 reviewsMano Negra 48% SLdR
Dirt, smoke, vanilla. Floral! Mulch, peas, cilantro, candied lemon, ginger. Soft body, floral finish. Elegant batch! 7/10
Marca Negra 50.5% SLdR
More high-toned, a little more tropical in nature than the above. Papaya, plums, cilantro too, tropical starburst. Slightly peppery finish, bright flavors in the development. A little more brash, however. 6/10.
TheAuditor
38 reviewsManoNegra Tobala
Batch 09-2011 456/750
This is a tobala Mezcal spirit, made by Jorge Mendez Ramierz in San Juan Del Rio. Let’s see how it holds up.
ABV: 48%
Nose: Black Pepper, spicy, Earthy, Red Berries.
Palate: Medium Mouthfeel, Black Pepper, Spicy. Mineraly, tangy citrus. Sweet bell pepper.
Finish: Medium length, warm. Minerals, slight earth. Pepper, citrus.
A pretty tasty offering. Some nice mineralty in there, mixed with some earthiness and sweetnesss. Tasty and something I wouldn’t mind a full bottle of.
ManoNegra Tobala
Batch 09-2011 456/750
This is a tobala Mezcal spirit, made by Jorge Mendez Ramierz in San Juan Del Rio. Let’s see how it holds up.
ABV: 48%
Nose: Black Pepper, spicy, Earthy, Red Berries.
Palate: Medium Mouthfeel, Black Pepper, Spicy. Mineraly, tangy citrus. Sweet bell pepper.
Finish: Medium length, warm. Minerals, slight earth. Pepper, citrus.
A pretty tasty offering. Some nice mineralty in there, mixed with some earthiness and sweetnesss. Tasty and something I wouldn’t min
Arrancapelos
1 reviewTo strong for me. Kind of sweet, way too much alcohol taste. I prefer tepeztate variaty.
Batch: xjin 17-17
Bottle: 530/2760
ABV: 50.6%
PhilBrunski
25 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
57 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
23 reviewsnice long pleasant finish. A little hottter. Not as smooth as most tobala.
Tyler
641 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
705 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
14 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