Rey Campero Jabali is a high risk, high reward Mezcal. Some credit Maestro Romulo as the first in Oaxaca to truly harness the maguey Jabali.
About this mezcal
Rey Campero Jabali is made with maguey Jabali. The flavor of this mezcal has lots of tropical fruit and citrus. It is earthy with a hint of pepper. Its richly textured and the smoke frames the wild flavors of this special agave. Part of what makes the Jabali so seldom used in Mezcal is its history of expanding and foaming during the fermentation and distillation process, which makes this a very high risk, high reward Mezcal.
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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GCropsey
5 reviewsLote: DS015-J. Mezcalero: Romulo Sanchez Parada.
Nose: Rubber, Petrol, Dried Fruits, Fresh Tennis Balls (haha)!
Sip: Dry Mouthfeel, Rubber, Minerality, Light Vegetal notes.
Finish: Sensation along mid-tongue line and top of mouth behind front teeth.
Notes: Very unique batch! Jabali always pulls very diverse profiles together, and I really liked the flavors here. Got the 200ml version and I might have to find the 750ml once this runs out!
Americana Kyle
60 reviewsLot D5015-J / produced Oct 19 / btl 236/598
The perfect example of a Jabali expression. Not only one of my favorite Jabali’s but one of my favorite offerings from Rey Campero.
aarild
152 reviewsLots of tarragon on the nose, tanned leather, a bit acetone and fried chicken.
A bit harsh at first, on opening the bottle, letting it rest in the glass for 15 minutes was necessary, but very effectful.
On the palate you’d think a pechuga for a second, but then it leans towards more barbecue sauce and guajilo chili. Also a fantastic layer of tropical fruit throughout, before the herbs come back towards the finish with tarragon, thyme and white pepper. Nice coating effect, medium mouthfeel but not oily.
As usual, I am excited to see what happens to the bottle in a few weeks.
DS013-J from September 2019.
Lots of tarragon on the nose, tanned leather, a bit acetone and fried chicken.
A bit harsh at first, on opening the bottle, letting it rest in the glass for 15 minutes was necessary, but very effectful.
On the palate you’d think a pechuga for a second, but then it leans towards more barbecue sauce and guajilo chili. Also a fantastic layer of tropical fruit throughout, before the herbs come back towards the finish with tarragon, thyme and white pepper. Nice coating effect, medium mouthfeel
Zack Klamn
542 reviewsLote: DS015-J
Nose – Tropical papaya. Kiwi. Rotisserie chicken.
Palate – Subtle and subdued at first and then BOOM!… flame-grilled chicken lathered in a very smoky, ketjap manis (Indonesian sweet soy sauce). Worn, beaten down leather. Salt & pepper Kettle potato chips. The sweet, smoky and meaty aspect highlights a long finish and warm (semi-hot) aftertaste.
This is a heavyweight punchy mezcal, amazing stuff!
James
9 reviewsLote D5009A-J, 49.2%
My first jabali, and this certainly lives up to its reputation of having a bit of a wild profile. Nose reminds me of ketchup and spice, black pepper, a little leather, tropical fruit, sometimes dominated by acetone. Taste of fruit and spice, underlying green, vegetal flavor, or underripe fruit. Lacks the “funkiness” that I notice in a lot of mezcals; just bold, spicy, fruity nose and taste, with a medium body and creaminess. Like most of what I’ve tried from Rey Campero, this is hot and complex, but a little unrefined.
Lote D5009A-J, 49.2%
My first jabali, and this certainly lives up to its reputation of having a bit of a wild profile. Nose reminds me of ketchup and spice, black pepper, a little leather, tropical fruit, sometimes dominated by acetone. Taste of fruit and spice, underlying green, vegetal flavor, or underripe fruit. Lacks the “funkiness” that I notice in a lot of mezcals; just bold, spicy, fruity nose and taste, with a medium body and creaminess. Like most of what I’ve tried fro
Patrick
57 reviews2016
Batch : ds007-j
This was long overdue….
Nose : Juicy fruit up front, then cinnamon and pears. Vanilla and tropical fruits come in and out.
Taste : bubble gum, light smoke, fresh green peppers, fresh and summery.
Finish : dry, peaty and sweet.
I’ve heard many people raving about this bottle and now so will I..
James Christian
45 reviewsLot DS016-J, Oct 2019
Revised to a 5 after going through a bootle and a half. I love this stuff!
Nose: I get mango and sugar corn pops with a little spicy pepper on the nose.
Palate: Super smooth and coating mouthfeel. Not a bit of burn anywhere. It just costs and makes the mouth watery.
Taste: Flavors are very slight mango with even slighter sugared bacon and almonds. Sometimes I get “Peppered Bacon Corn Pops” which makes me want that cereal to exist.
Cocido
1 reviewThe least enjoyable jabali i have had so far. Over $80/bottle and very disappointing. I do not doubt the quality of Rey Campero’s mezcales but this 2016 batch was just not right: very one-way, single layer, harsh and rather uneventful.
Nickwrobison
12 reviewsLote: DS009A-J
White pepper on the nose.
Chalky green taste at first, changes to a soft sweetness.
Churchyard
4 reviewsLot: D5014-J
Bottle No. 3381548
Beautiful expression: aromas of breakfast cereal (Corn Pops and hints of Cinnamon Toast Crunch). Sweet up front with a distinct palm sugar flavor, but moves into notes of almonds, leather, tobacco, and cocoa. Finishes rich and complex.
A fantastic bottle, and quickly becoming one of my favorites in the collection.
TzotollineRaramuri
75 reviewsLote D5009A-J; 200ml
?- clear
?- dryingimpact.
Aromas of caraway, peppercorn, chamomile, papaya, guava, quince, pineapple, mango, banana peel, mandarin, menthol, prickly pears.
Adequate & complex production.
Average length and fine character.
?- coating effect with some warming; sufficient smooth alcohol; medium-full body.
Primarily sour taste, with light sweet & bitter highlights; buttery smoothness.
Flavors of tamarind, mango, peach, guava, orange, papaya, chamomile, peppercorn, light chipotle, and wild honey.
Concentrated flavor intensity, complex character, harmonious balance.
Pleasant and very long finish.
Excellent overall impression.
*very unique profile, quite tropical without being ” too sweet” or over ripe. Nice complexity and craftmanship.
Learn more about organoleptic evaluation at the International Wine & Spirits Guild’s seminar in Fine Spirits,
or more on Agave Spirits certifications through the Agave Spirits Institute.
Lote D5009A-J; 200ml
?- clear
?- dryingimpact.
Aromas of caraway, peppercorn, chamomile, papaya, guava, quince, pineapple, mango, banana peel, mandarin, menthol, prickly pears.
Adequate & complex production.
Average length and fine character.
?- coating effect with some warming; sufficient smooth alcohol; medium-full body.
Primarily sour taste, with light sweet & bitter highlights; buttery smoothness.
Flavors of tamarind, mango, peach, guava, orange, papaya, chamomile, peppercorn, light
meserole
73 reviewsI was excited to try my first full jabali mezcal, based on its exotic reputation. This one had a really exciting nose, with a fruity aroma of papayas and bbq/smoke. Unfortunately the body was way more intense than I saw coming — super hot, with some of the leather taste that I’ve come to associate with Sierra Negra and Arroqueño magueys. A bit of the heat lets up near the end for a relatively creamy and nice finish. It’s a bold and fairly interesting mezcal, but not one that I’d want to own a full bottle of.
Tried at Origen restaurant in Oaxaca City, no bottle details unfortunately.
I was excited to try my first full jabali mezcal, based on its exotic reputation. This one had a really exciting nose, with a fruity aroma of papayas and bbq/smoke. Unfortunately the body was way more intense than I saw coming — super hot, with some of the leather taste that I’ve come to associate with Sierra Negra and Arroqueño magueys. A bit of the heat lets up near the end for a relatively creamy and nice finish. It’s a bold and fairly interesting mezcal, but not one that I
PhilBrunski
25 reviewsNov 2015. So different. Gun powder, lays potato chips, cement. This is one that id always put in a tasting just to show how diverse the taste in different agaves can be. If you grab or try one Rey Campero bottle, this is the one.
spasta
22 reviewsInteresting. Strong Green bell pepper notes. Taste is contained and not long, but very beautiful. A great expression from Rey.
edgy4sure
39 reviewsWow, I love it! Just bought today – spendy but won’t be sharing with others! Def needs some air up front but it is very citrusy with big heat behind it. Will buy again and may double up or so as long as they’re in stock – local purchase too, so while it costs a bit more, it’s worth it since it doesn’t require a trip to MX.
Meady
53 reviewsNose dominated by nail polish at first, but opens up with air with more fruit coming through.
Hints of sour and saltiness initially on the palate, which give way to more sweetness and vegetal tones.
Find it hard to depict all the flavours, seem to change with each visit to the bottle and each sip. That draws me back to the bottle.
I don’t get the sweet fruit notes that others have cited on this batch, but it’s light, bright and tasty all the same.
JoeyLee
3 reviewsJuly 2016 D5006-J
Heavy nail polish remover on the nose but morphs into something sweeter which turns into straight funk. With the first sip, I get a subtle sweetness which leads to a funky fruit taste, much like papaya and mango. There’s almost a sour petrol taste to this near the end. Very complex and ever changing, with a lot of flavors that are hard to pick out.
Juriy
23 reviewsHmmm, might be one of my favorite mezcals from now on. Can’t believe how balanced it is. Immediately salty and sour but then you feel sweetness blend in with all the floral notes, followed by slight bitterness. It just hits all the notes at once in perfect proportions; I just don’t want to change anything about it! Pleasant dessert aftertaste, mild smokiness. Instant classic.
MezcAleman
28 reviewsLot D5005-J – Sept 2015 Bottle 472/1072
Very Complex on the nose and palate, amazing all the way. Fruits (mostly Lime), green veggies, vanilla, smoke and a lot more, hard to describe but exceptional balanced and very clean. Nice smooth warm aftertaste.
One of the best mezcals I ever had
t8ke
144 reviewsSweet, lots of creamy sweetness before a fruity boquet. Some hickory, some light smoke, mostly a bright, sweet fruit bomb. Kiwi, pear, mango, banana runts. Interesting, unique, complex. Lots going on, all of it good and also interesting. This Jabali is wild in the best way.