Real Minero Marteño, Barril is produced by mezcalero Edgar Angeles at the palenque that he designed (as an architect) in Santa Catarina Minas, Oaxaca.
About this mezcal
Real Minero Marteño, Barril is made with maguey Marteño and maguey Barril. While many consider these two agaves synonymous and identical to the untrained eye, it’s important to remember that many producers in Oaxaca are using the agave naming conventions that have been passed on for generations. Many of these local names may be applied to denote very small differences in the same general agave species (Like both of these agaves are Karwinskii). Some of the differences may be physical in appearance. They could be differences the agaves create in production, or even differences in where the agave are grown (For example, if the agave grows on a certain hill it might be Marteño, but if it grows near the stream it might be Barril).
So this mezcal is made with agave Karwinksii that are mashed by hand and double distilled in small clay pots. Edgar Angeles is becoming very well-known for his high-proof Ensambles like this, produced at his family’s palenque in Santa Catarina Minas, Oaxaca.
Real Minero
Real Minero (previously Mezcal Real Minero) is considered by many to be one of the world’s finest mezcal producers. The Angeles family has been making mezcal for several generations in Santa Catarina Minas, Oaxaca. Their mezcal is made in small clay pot stills, and almost all of it is rested in glass for several months before bottling, giving the mezcal a much softer character. Outside of creating great spirits, they also have one of the largest and most diverse sustainable agave reforestation programs. With the help of the community, they’ve been able to rescue several agave varieties that were previously thought to be extinct. The ABV of each batch may vary slightly, so check your bottle for details.
In 2020, the brand began dropping the word “mezcal” from their labels. The term “traditional” replaces the CRM “ancestral” designation. Shortly thereafter, the brand officially parted ways with the certification process; all future releases will be labeled as “agave spirits” or something similar. Despite the label changes, nothing significant about their production process has changed over years.
Learn more:
- Real Minero agave nursery tour on Mezcal Reviews
- Real Minero palenque tour on Mezcal Reviews
- Listen to Graciela Angeles Carreño talk about her family’s production on the Show De Vie Podcast: Ep 291 – Graciela Angeles Carreño – The Real Thing.
Review this bottle
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Bryen
90 reviewsHad my eye on this bottle at Moreno’s for a while and finally pulled the trigger on it today. I LOVE marteño maguey but it’s very hard to find outside of Minas so I naturally wanted this bottle for that reason. I am not really getting much marteno flavor in this bottle at the moment though. It tastes more like a very expensive tobasiche from Minas, which is unfortunate. Still very good but not getting those peanut flavor notes of the marteno and picking up more leathery, vanilla, and even floral notes too. The bottle has been sitting for a while so hoping it changes with time– again, still great but not at all what I was expecting from the flavor profile.
Had my eye on this bottle at Moreno’s for a while and finally pulled the trigger on it today. I LOVE marteño maguey but it’s very hard to find outside of Minas so I naturally wanted this bottle for that reason. I am not really getting much marteno flavor in this bottle at the moment though. It tastes more like a very expensive tobasiche from Minas, which is unfortunate. Still very good but not getting those peanut flavor notes of the marteno and picking up more leathery, vanilla, an
Zack Klamn
542 reviewsNose – Red grapes. Brown butter. Orchids.
Palate – Very light scallion note. Jasmine. Blueberries and cream. Fantastic juice.
COak
238 reviewsBatch ARBM-01 Bottle 114/260. This is delicious, can’t say I’ve had many others like it. It has a little, funk, hay, chocolate and peanuts. Very full bodied, definitely worth a try.
Tyler
663 reviewsReally bomb batch. Loved the Marteño single maguey batch and this is strong in that direction with some woody Barril funk. The minty notes finish with lactic gum. I prefer the straight Marteño but enjoy this very much as a one-off sipper. Not going to go for multiple pours in one night. Big thanks to QUIUBO outside of Chicago for the pour. 70%/30% Marteño/Barril. 53.38%. Dec. 2018. ARBM-01.
t8ke
144 reviewsSweet, meaty, spicy and rich, Blend cream cheese frosting, beef bouillon, garlic shoots and honey. Faintly acidic, some nice ash on the back palate. Rich, and a hair hot on but not excessive.
Jonny
724 reviewsARBM-01. Aromas of orange peel, fresh cashews, and Northern Beninois sauce d’arachide. This is straight earth and fruit on the nose. The palate is less-thick than I’ve come to expect from Real Minero. It’s a bit thinner and less-viscous than what I expected, but still very nice in texture. Tasting notes are also very bright with hints of orange zest and some herbal notes like lavender and oregano.
TheAgaveFairy
169 reviewsARBM-01. Sweeter, a little spicier than the RM Largo I just tasted side by side, but the fruits remain as elusive. Raspberries and white chocolate, bright orange-like citrus (satsumas, that kinda thing), and more obvious white chocolate. There’s a touch of spent tea leaves
Palate: Softer style of sweetness, more delicate and floral entry, lots of orange blossom and like green tea with orange peel in it and touches of coconut. There’s a real vibrancy to it, slightly more acidic I think.
ARBM-01. Sweeter, a little spicier than the RM Largo I just tasted side by side, but the fruits remain as elusive. Raspberries and white chocolate, bright orange-like citrus (satsumas, that kinda thing), and more obvious white chocolate. There’s a touch of spent tea leaves
Palate: Softer style of sweetness, more delicate and floral entry, lots of orange blossom and like green tea with orange peel in it and touches of coconut. There’s a real vibrancy to it, slightly more acidic I think.
SpencerS
13 reviewsOne of 260 bottles produced courtesy of Austin Shaker.
This one lacks the finesse and elegance of other Real Minero mezcals I’ve tried. The nose is very earthy with lots of roasted peanuts signature to the clay pots used for distilling. I also pick up funky overripe fruit and cheese notes. The palate is somewhat overwhelming with nothing shining through distinctively. This is probably due to the high ABV (53.4%). Very warm notes overall, with peanuts, nutmeg, wood, and banana peel.
The burn is a little too prevalent. This mezcal would probably be better at a lower ABV. Overall, not my favorite but is still made at the masterful hands of Edgar Carreño so still solid.
One of 260 bottles produced courtesy of Austin Shaker.
This one lacks the finesse and elegance of other Real Minero mezcals I’ve tried. The nose is very earthy with lots of roasted peanuts signature to the clay pots used for distilling. I also pick up funky overripe fruit and cheese notes. The palate is somewhat overwhelming with nothing shining through distinctively. This is probably due to the high ABV (53.4%). Very warm notes overall, with peanuts, nutmeg, wood, and banana peel.
The burn is
GreenspointTexas
385 reviewsAnother Austin Shaker “exclusive.” Anyone that has ever had a beligian gueuze beer can sympathize. Funk. Hay. Saddle blanket. Sour beer. Lactic. Oranges. Yeast. And a bunch of other flavors I cant put my finger on. Very complex, but not sure if thats a good thing with this one. Would love to see what oxygen does with this one.
Man, on 2nd and 3rd sip… still getting spontaneously fermented oak aged wild ales. Crazy. A one of a kind mezcal