Rey Campero Tobala is made from wild and semi-cultivated agave harvested in and around Candelaria Yegolé, Oaxaca.
About this mezcal
Rey Campero Tobala is made from maguey Tobala that is harvested from about 6000 feet above sea level. The high altitude and cooler climate gives the Tobala a unique character. Given the small stature of this agave, it can take enormous amounts of Tobala to produce very small batches of 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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KyraNicole
43 reviewsLot D5004-To, produced March 2018; bottle 62/1348; lightly sweet/ fruit with pepper, easy to sip
MaryKitty
10 reviewsAt PV Mezcal Bar. Smoky, mild heat but smooth and yummy. Peppery, agave, and smoke
Suicide Squid
10 reviewsIn PV at De Cantaro Mezcal Bar. A nice balanced agave and heat smell. Sweet tangy tobala taste with the heat hanging on the edge nicely without going over. Until the finish, where the heat hits fast, but subsides.
Jam
149 reviewsLote d5008-TO, June 2022 production date, glass rested 6 months, 48.4% abv
Review #32: Fresh caramel, light and perfumey florals, sort of ‘airy’ like fresh rain on the nose, milk/white chocolate, fresh strawberry and watermelon, candy kiwi, light minerals and some salinity on the finish.
This is among my favorite tobala so far. It has an alluring freshness to it with the florals and the fruits mixed together.
Patrick
57 reviewsRomulo Sanchez Parada
DS005-T0
Nov 2019
Nose : Very sweet with notes of honey and leather. There are also vegetal notes like coriander and something farmyardy..
Taste : bagaso, cinnamon, leather, brown sugar.
Finish : spicy, oily and no smoke.
This is a complex well priced mezcal.
Zack Klamn
542 reviewsNose – Strawberries. Honey. Light cream.
Palate – 2% milk. Honeycomb cereal. A very sweet heat to it – nice! Baked apple pie notes in the finish. Pretty rockin’ tobala. 1 oz. sample at Madre!
Americana Kyle
60 reviewsDid not get a batch number. This one had alot of the same amazing characteristics of the Real Minero Tobala, fruity, minerality, refined. I wish I could drink it all of the time.
TzotollineRaramuri
75 reviewsMRCH 2018, Lot D5004-TO; Bottle 796/1348
?- clear
?- soft drying impact effect.
Aromas of some VA; green & vegetal, coriander, fresh herbs, green bell pepper, green peppercorn, green anise, rubber/plastic, pickled watermelon rind.
Adequate towards powerful intensity & complex production.
Average length and fine character.
?- astringent effect with coating highlights; generous smooth-rough alcohol; medium-full body.
Primarily sour taste with sweet highlights; buttery smoothness.
Flavors of vegetal, aloe vera, light peppercorn, wood, tart guava, waxy apricot.
Concentrated flavor intensity, slight complex character, bold yet harmonious balance.
Pleasant and very long finish.
Very good to Excellent overall impression.
*Round and balanced. The VA nose blows off. It’s slightly monotone, but pleasant. Need to revisit for more complexity, developing character.
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.
MRCH 2018, Lot D5004-TO; Bottle 796/1348
?- clear
?- soft drying impact effect.
Aromas of some VA; green & vegetal, coriander, fresh herbs, green bell pepper, green peppercorn, green anise, rubber/plastic, pickled watermelon rind.
Adequate towards powerful intensity & complex production.
Average length and fine character.
?- astringent effect with coating highlights; generous smooth-rough alcohol; medium-full body.
Primarily sour taste with sweet highlights; buttery smoothness.
Flavors
Gregg T&T
100 reviewsDS004-TO Bottle 106/348. Unripe banana, honeydew, honey, perfume and fresh cut flowers. Sharp and bright with anise and white pepper. Spicy and herbal with a pleasurable heat that rides through a long finish
Chris
40 reviewsDS003-TO Oct 2015 76/826. Found this at Specs in downtown Houston, which has a good a selection I’ve seen in the US so far. Earlier in the day I also went to the Specs at the Galleria, which had very little inventory, but they did have one bottle of the Oct 2014 Vago Mexicano, which has justifiably received high marks. (Cork rather than the silicone stoppers found on more recent Vago.) My third taster of the night is a bottle of the Marca Negra Dobadan XA012-17 I brought back from Mexico. These are all fine additions, with very different notes, but this really, really fine Tobala is the winner. I’ve tried to do
comparisons in the past within the same agave family and would like to see how the Rey Campero holds up against the Jolgorio Tobala, which is excellent too. If you are in Houston, definitely go to the Pastry War at 310 Main. Unfortunately, with a meeting the next morning, I had to behave.
DS003-TO Oct 2015 76/826. Found this at Specs in downtown Houston, which has a good a selection I’ve seen in the US so far. Earlier in the day I also went to the Specs at the Galleria, which had very little inventory, but they did have one bottle of the Oct 2014 Vago Mexicano, which has justifiably received high marks. (Cork rather than the silicone stoppers found on more recent Vago.) My third taster of the night is a bottle of the Marca Negra Dobadan XA012-17 I brought back from Mexico.
Squashplayer
36 reviewsSmooth and slightly sweet! Very little bite on the finish. A well done version of the noble Tobala.
Gfunk
23 reviewsSweet nose, Sweet and grassy finish. Very smooth and balanced.
Jonny
705 reviewsLot DS002-70 from 2014. This has sweet aromas of honey and caramel. Like other Rey Campero, this is oily on the palate. Typically, I’m not crazy about oily mezcal, but this Tobala is nice. It’s not as sweet or as floral as other Tobala mezcal, but it still has some good subtleties of potatoes, turnips, and beets.
Tyler
641 reviewsDecent tobala from Rey Campero. A bit hot with flavors more fruity than vegetal. Notes of leather, wood, and jalapeño. You don’t see this release around very often. Lot D5002-70 from July 2014.
3chainz
19 reviewsBorderline sweet on the tongue…..agave forward. can drink this one all day and night