Rey Campero Espadin is a good option for both sipping neat or for using in cocktails that need a robust and strong profile.
About this mezcal
Rey Campero Espadin uses agave Espadin that is fermented in open air with wild yeasts. In true Rey Campero fashion, only the highest quality agave are used in production. Many batches of Rey Campero Espadin are also aged in glass before bottling, which gives them a much softer feel. Make sure to check the release and bottling information on each bottle as different batches have different flavor notes. Regardless of which release you’re tasting, many consider this to be one of the better Espadin Mezcals on the market.
Rey Campero Mezcal
Rey Campero represents the culture, tradition and art of Candelaria Yegolé, a small town in the Southern Highlands of Oaxaca, with a fertile ground on its slopes and canyons. It represents a people dedicated to the production of artisanal Mezcal, so one of its principles is to help producers of maguey, by creating job opportunities, but especially in finding markets for the best Mezcal. Rey Campero, means “King of the Countryside” and it was founded by the maestro mezcalero Romulo Sanchez Parada. Romulo learned how to make mezcal from his father, and he worked in the palenque until age 20. He lived and worked for several years in North Carolina while in his 20s before returning to Oaxaca in 2003. Each lot may vary slightly, so check your bottle for specific details about ABV.
Review this bottle
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TrogdordeFuegoanator
40 reviewsI received a small vessel with-out a label and was really pleasantly surprised to pour out and sip what was inside. Then I learned it was Rey Campero Espadin! I’ve had this mezcal a great many times and yet would never have figured it was the same. Turns out its this certain batch, “029-E” is quite special and I’ve since collected several bottles. Generally wouldn’t weight a price point into a rating but find this impossible to resist.
It first tasted like a very, very good potatorum…not to knock the nobile angustifolia. Winter warmer.
I received a small vessel with-out a label and was really pleasantly surprised to pour out and sip what was inside. Then I learned it was Rey Campero Espadin! I’ve had this mezcal a great many times and yet would never have figured it was the same. Turns out its this certain batch, “029-E” is quite special and I’ve since collected several bottles. Generally wouldn’t weight a price point into a rating but find this impossible to resist.
It first tasted like a very,
Zack Klamn
542 reviewsLote: DSO30-E
Nose: Smoke, citrus.
Palate: Smoky, grassy, banana sweet. Vapory and aggressive in the midsection. Peppery, solvent aftertaste.
Kind of a blah espadin for the price point.
Joe
27 reviewsWow! Almost creamy, sweet, smooth, and delicious. Maybe something like an almond flavor here. The flavors seem well balanced and even, nothing jumps out, no harshness, but quite rich. Among my favorites, especially at the price.
GreenspointTexas
385 reviews3.75/5
Balanced, some nuance. Cream cheese and peaches. Solid. A go-to of the price was lower
tallchad
122 reviewsSolid mezcal with medium smoke. From aroma to taste to finish–just good. Great all-around mezcal.
Wild Common
10 reviewsWow. BANG right off the bat on the palate, full-bodied maguey goodness. Warm clean mid-palate with a long mellow finish. Hints of lactic on nose. This one is special Lote D5030-E __90
t8ke
144 reviewsRich and earthy. Lots of clay, pepper, minerality. Woody, lots of ash and smoked meats.
Nice stuff, but a little rough. The abundance of ash on the finish kind of detracts from the nose and palate for me. That said, I’d happily drink more of this.
El Dawg
230 reviewsIn a blind taste test of 5 different R.C. mezcals, I had no idea this was the espadin (an agave I was sure I could figure out). Complex, and actually quite unlike anything I’ve tasted. Ton of ‘movie butter’ on the nose. I got a bit of oaky/woodiness as well on the front taste, and the smoke at the end is welcomed. However this uniqueness wasn’t a great thing for for me. Still came in towards the bottom of my R.C. blind taste (ahead of the Mexicano), but on 2nd tasting I still find this to be a solid espadin at 3.5 stars. I would say if I want to sip a daily espadin and not break the bank, it would be hard to go wrong here. If I had a bit more money to spend however, I’d go for something else.
Lote: D5030-E.
In a blind taste test of 5 different R.C. mezcals, I had no idea this was the espadin (an agave I was sure I could figure out). Complex, and actually quite unlike anything I’ve tasted. Ton of ‘movie butter’ on the nose. I got a bit of oaky/woodiness as well on the front taste, and the smoke at the end is welcomed. However this uniqueness wasn’t a great thing for for me. Still came in towards the bottom of my R.C. blind taste (ahead of the Mexicano), but on 2nd tastin
JDB
185 reviewsRómulo Sánchez Parada, July 2019, Lot DSO28-E, a sweet nose that turns into a strong charred smell, a lot of herbal notes, bits of pepper and spice, a touch of earth. A good mezcal for the price.
Nic Hnastchenko
109 reviewsNice bite, and a little hot.
Eric_M
7 reviewsThis is one of the better espadins I’ve tried and a it’s a great mezcal for the price. Full of flavor but not much alcohol bite. It has some peppery and citrus flavors with a little bit of sweetness. I’ll definitely buy this one again.
Gregg T&T
100 reviewsLot DS012-E Nov 2016. Bright floral and citrus nose. Big agave and warm pepper mouthfeels. Easy heat despite the 49.4% with a complex finish that lingers on the tongue.
Rorschach
43 reviewsMy best espadin so far. Interesting because I have 3 open bottles and I can blind taste all three-
DS019-D 200ml
DS022-E
DS024-E
The lot is hand written so not 100% on the spelling.
The DS019 is by far the best, then the DS022, and the DS024 is more like firewater.
This was a good lesson on lot numbers and a new awareness of buying the same thing you sample.
My now go to on lot DS039-E, produced May 2021.
DS037-E nice as the last lot 02252022
My best espadin so far. Interesting because I have 3 open bottles and I can blind taste all three-
DS019-D 200ml
DS022-E
DS024-E
The lot is hand written so not 100% on the spelling.
The DS019 is by far the best, then the DS022, and the DS024 is more like firewater.
This was a good lesson on lot numbers and a new awareness of buying the same thing you sample.
My now go to on lot DS039-E, produced May 2021.
DS037-E nice as the last lot 02252022
rsidrys
50 reviewsA quintessential Espadin. Green and cooked agave, a good play between sweetness, smoke, minerals, earth, citrus, mint. Reminded me of a really good tequila. I docked it half a star because of alcohol that trailed all these notes – even after letting it sit for a while.
TheAgaveFairy
169 reviewsTempted to go the 4.5*.
This is a benchmark espadin for me. Great typicity and balance of smoke, minerality, agave, and flavors. At 49% it’s surprsingly gentle (and gets similarly somehow lost in cocktails). Reminding me of a highlands tequila, there’s just great agave flavor with accents of citrus and pepper. Good complexity, good finish, touches of flowers on the backend. A great “daily drinker”.
Rakhal
430 reviewsLot DS01S-E. May 2017. 53.9%. Ramiro Sánchez Altamirano. This was a special batch of Espadin made by the normal Mezcaleros father or grandfather, I forget the exact story. They have a bottle at Cultura Mezcaleria in Carmel California. This is something special. Rich, creamy, and smooth. Not at all hot, despite the high abv. Chocolate, cedar, sandalwood, and hazelnut. This is one of the best Espadins I’ve ever had.
COak
238 reviewsD5015-E, May 2015, 53.9%, Ramiro Sanchez, Romulo’s father. This was a special release to Alamo Liquors in San Antonio. Very flavorful espadin. When I first opened it, it was a bit hot but has since simmered down really nicely. I prefer this to Romulo’s version.
DEEF
5 reviewsA very good Espadin. Super banana nose! Very sweet banana smelling. Balanced graduation of flavors with light dryness and slightly sweet finish. Some smoke and acidity. Very well made for a large yielding agave. I preferred this over the Mexicano and Madre Cuishe.
Jonny
729 reviewsLot DS010-E from December 2015. This is a little hot up front and a little hot on the finish, but it’s strong in flavor and aroma as well. Notes of leather, licorice, and minerals. It’s dry and finite on the finish with a bit of metallic and citric notes. This is a solid mezcal at a solid price.
Chris
40 reviewsLot D6012-E November 2016. Fruity green fresh nose. Sweet pungent agave in the mouth, not overly hot. Flavorful and drinkable. I bought this bottle on the same day as the Siembra Metl Cupreata, which I gave three stars, for basically the same price. About half of the Rey Campero Espadin remains, whereas I’m still in the curve at the top of the the Siembra Metl bottle. I plan to do a fuller espadin comparison and plan to do some comparisons with the other Rey Campero mezcals. I have very positive thoughts about their Jabali and the rarer Romulo Sanchez Parada Coyote that is put out under a Secretos de Yegole label is truly outstanding.
Lot D6012-E November 2016. Fruity green fresh nose. Sweet pungent agave in the mouth, not overly hot. Flavorful and drinkable. I bought this bottle on the same day as the Siembra Metl Cupreata, which I gave three stars, for basically the same price. About half of the Rey Campero Espadin remains, whereas I’m still in the curve at the top of the the Siembra Metl bottle. I plan to do a fuller espadin comparison and plan to do some comparisons with the other Rey Campero mezcals. I have very po