NETA Bicuixe was distilled by Mezcalero Hermógenes Vasquez in April 2016 using 280 Karwinskii agaves harvested under a full moon at peak maturity.
About this destilado de agave
NETA Bicuixe was distilled by Mezcalero Hermógenes Vasquez in April 2016 (Batch HB-001). The 280 Karwinskii agaves were harvested under a full moon at peak maturity from red and rocky tierra colorada at about 4,600 feet above sea level. These Bicuixe piñas were pit-roasted with mesquite wood, rested for a week, and then chopped with a machete. The fibrous chunks, carefully selected for their sugars, were run through a mechanical mill and then dry fermented for two days in two separate 1,000 liter Montezuma cypress wood tanks. Then well water was added, beginning the wet fermentation process which ran for an additional eight days. After adjusting the alcohol levels with común macizo, the 25-40% ABV liquid from the first round of distillation, Hermógenes was left with a total of 200 liters of Bicuixe at 46.9% ABV.
NETA
NETA is a colloquial word in Mexico that translates to “the real deal” or “the truth”. Since 2012, the brand has worked closely with several small, family producers and a cooperative of twelve palenqueros from the southern valleys and hills of Miahuatlán, Oaxaca. The region has preserved its reputation for producing some of the finest mezcales and agave spirits anywhere in Mexico. The team behind NETA presents a carefully curated selection of extraordinary spirits that would otherwise never be found outside of its place of origin.
A note about NETA labels: The total bottle count written on the front label might be less than the total batch size. Batches may be split between Mexico, Europe, and the US; the handwritten bottle count represents the number of bottles imported into a particular country.
Learn more about NETA:
- NETA – Spirit Distilled from Agave on the K&L Wines Spirits Journal blog
- NETA is finally here on Mezcalistas
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Jam
149 reviewsI Didn’t get a batch number or abv.
Disclaimer: This was tried at a tasting as a half ounce sample, so these are short notes. I’ll update if I get to try this again.
Review #56: grass, some fruit tartness, salty, licorice, herbal finish.
This was really only being held back by too much grassiness for my tastes. I was happy to find some licorice flavors in here and it worked really nicely with the rest of the herbs on the end of the palate.
TheAgaveFairy
169 reviewsSmoked fish, plums, tarragon, spearmint. Salted licorice candies, Jolly Rancher Strawberry? Very complex and controlled. Aromatic, fruity, savory, mineral, this hits on every sense.
Stinky meaty smoked fish entry, swelling through agave sweetness and bright fruitiness into mulch tones and bitter cocoa powder, before turning into different darker fruits and fading on the salted licorice, smoke, heat, and slightly woody sign of things. Sweet, savory, mineral, sour, bitter, in that order. This hits hard!!!
Smoked fish, plums, tarragon, spearmint. Salted licorice candies, Jolly Rancher Strawberry? Very complex and controlled. Aromatic, fruity, savory, mineral, this hits on every sense.
Stinky meaty smoked fish entry, swelling through agave sweetness and bright fruitiness into mulch tones and bitter cocoa powder, before turning into different darker fruits and fading on the salted licorice, smoke, heat, and slightly woody sign of things. Sweet, savory, mineral, sour, bitter, in that order. This hits
Tyler
641 reviewsDelicious Bicuixe. Had in a Bicuixe flight with 3 bottles and this was the favorite. Dried vanilla bean is a good way to describe the aroma. The flavors have a slight funk like sour grapes but there an equal sweetness here too. I think the dry ferment and week long fermentation are creating some unique flavors here. There are some notes adjacent to chalk and copper but nothing is unpleasant. The releases from NETA are quite unique among Oaxacan mezcals. April 2016. Bottle 006/132.
Jonny
705 reviewsApril 2016. Bottle 006/132. Serious bicuixe here! Aromas of vanilla beans, sour apples, dry grass, and macadamia. Tastes like skittles, sugary fruit, and Sweet Tarts. Medium body. This is a total bombshell. Absolute fire. Awesome. Tasted this alongside 4 other allstar bicuixes, and this stood above them all.
COak
228 reviewsSublime is the first word that came to mind when describing this. Tried it against Felipe Cortes’ bicuishe, which I love and I liked this better. Must try!