Sotoleros Bienvenido Fernández (Yellow Label) is a sotol and agave ensamble produced by Bienvenido Fernández in Madera, Chihuahua.
About this destilado de agave
Sotoleros Bienvenido Fernández (Yellow Label) is produced by Bienvenido Fernández in Madera, Chihuahua. He has more than 40 years of experience producing sotol and lechuguilla. He learned from his grandfather and father, who produced sotol in clandestine mobile vinatas (local name for distillery) that were immersed in the heart of the Northern Chihuahuan Sierra.
Bienvenido often makes ensambles of sotol and agave; using mature Agave shrevei that grow next to Dasylirion wheeleri sotol plants. He cooks the plants underground on a pit oven with stones and oak wood. He grinds the cooked plants with a mechanical grinder then ferments in stainless steel tanks. Finally, he double distills in copper pot stills with wooden hats on top.
Sotoleros
Sotoleros is a collection of traditional distillates from northern Mexico, which seeks to represent the tradition, art and culture of the region. Products from this brand began appearing on shelves in early 2021. Sotoleros has a connection with the legendary brand Clande Sotol – the colors on the bottle labels follow a similar pattern too. However, Soloteros is not a “rebrand” and the exact history between the two brands is unknown.
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Zack Klamn
542 reviewsNose – Green leafy aroma. Dusty. Rock candy. Pine needles.
Palate – Slight buttery funk to it, nice! Anise. Sage brush. Candy cane. Pine. Like Christmas on Little House on the Prairie.
This was a 1.5 oz sample from mezcal review ninja, Rahkal. Lot 3.
zeepuzzler
25 reviewsLot 02. Bottle 66/102. 80% Wheeleri, 20% Shrevei. 49.8% ABV.
Nose: Garden hose, honeydew, oyster mushroom, fresh hay, beeswax, honeycomb, cilantro, artichoke, fireworks.
Palate: Chamomile, lavender, fresh cut grass, strawberry Runts, fireplace, pine needles, rosin for string instruments, cane sugar, barley water.
Finish: River rocks, wet gravel. Many minutes down the line, kiwi fruit and clover.
This is a desert island spirit for me. Juicy, breath-taking, complex. Wish I had five more bottles of it.
UPDATE (August 5, 2021): Just cracked open a bottle from Lot 03 (32/120) and agree with Rakhal. It’s not as good as Lot 02. It’s smoother, lighter, and less complex. Not bad at all, and I have no regrets about purchasing, but it’s also not worthy of my desert island cache.
Lot 02. Bottle 66/102. 80% Wheeleri, 20% Shrevei. 49.8% ABV.
Nose: Garden hose, honeydew, oyster mushroom, fresh hay, beeswax, honeycomb, cilantro, artichoke, fireworks.
Palate: Chamomile, lavender, fresh cut grass, strawberry Runts, fireplace, pine needles, rosin for string instruments, cane sugar, barley water.
Finish: River rocks, wet gravel. Many minutes down the line, kiwi fruit and clover.
This is a desert island spirit for me. Juicy, breath-taking, complex. Wish I had five more bott
meserole
73 reviewsTastes of chammomile, bright citrus (orange/lemon), crayon wax, a sharp fragrant perfume-like taste, plus a bit of honey-butter. There’s a mid-mouth sweetness that I would liken to an artificial sweetener, stevia or aspartame say. Astringent in a mouth-refreshing way — starts off a bit hot in the mouth, but goes down smooth.
Aftertaste is the classic clean stones with some clean vanilla creaminess and citric brightness. That artificial sweetness is hard to miss, and if I were actually drinking a diet soda that would annoy me, but in this context it’s novel.
I was unfairly hoping this would be an exact replica of Bienvenido Fernando’s absolutely mind-blowing Clande yellow label 100% wheeleri sotol. A bold and complex spirit, once I recalibrated my expectations. Absolutely another entry into the Clande/Sotoleros legacy that proves that sotol can absolutely hold its own against fine mezcal.
Lot No. 2 Bottle 9/102 — 80% Wheeleri and 20% Agave shrevei
Tastes of chammomile, bright citrus (orange/lemon), crayon wax, a sharp fragrant perfume-like taste, plus a bit of honey-butter. There’s a mid-mouth sweetness that I would liken to an artificial sweetener, stevia or aspartame say. Astringent in a mouth-refreshing way — starts off a bit hot in the mouth, but goes down smooth.
Aftertaste is the classic clean stones with some clean vanilla creaminess and citric brightness. That artificial sweetness is hard to miss, and if I were actua
TzotollineRaramuri
75 reviews1oz sample; unknown Lot/Bottle #s
?- clear
?- soft drying impact.
Aromas of over ripe funky tropical fruits, floral honey, pine, raw woods, artichoke, nopalitos, dusty soil and clay minerality.
Adequate & simple to complex production.
Average length and ordinary to fine character.
?- astringent effect with some coating & warming; sufficient smooth alcohol; medium-full body.
Primarily sweet & sour taste, with bitter salty highlights; buttery smoothness.
Flavors of raw honey, syrupy, dried apricots, ashy wood, clay, terracotta, pine needles & hay, tree sap/resin.
Medium concentrated flavor intensity, slightly complex, correct balance.
Straightforward and very long finish.
Excellent overall impression.
*huge deal of terroir, reminiscent of the Flor del Desierto “Sierra” label; Very clay-ranch water, pine, fireplace driven. Well balanced.
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.
1oz sample; unknown Lot/Bottle #s
?- clear
?- soft drying impact.
Aromas of over ripe funky tropical fruits, floral honey, pine, raw woods, artichoke, nopalitos, dusty soil and clay minerality.
Adequate & simple to complex production.
Average length and ordinary to fine character.
?- astringent effect with some coating & warming; sufficient smooth alcohol; medium-full body.
Primarily sweet & sour taste, with bitter salty highlights; buttery smoothness.
Flavors of raw honey, syrupy, d
Rakhal
421 reviewsLot 2. A lush garden after a rainstorm, farmland next to the ocean, a waterfall deep in a redwood forest. It’s spirits like this that make me regret giving 5 stars to others. A masterpiece.
UPDATE: Lot 3 is not as good. If you can, get Lot 2.
TheAgaveFairy
169 reviewsLot 1 50.8% (80% Wheeleri 20% Shrevei) $95/750
Tasted side by side with a similar Clande lot.
Meaty, with dessicated tropical fruits like plantain in with a nuttiness as well. More floral, almond flour, culantro, some kind of rubber, Xylitol.
Palate: More “grip” to the texture and more rubber flavor, with more nuttiness showing here on a less explosive main event of flavors that’s more even and measured with less development through the finish of desiccated plantain, minerality, light semi-fresh herbal notes, and burnt match. Very complex, austere.
Conclusion and “t8ke” scale rating: 7/10. Interesting form to this, and the different agave is making nice subtle changes. Rockstar producer!
Lot 1 50.8% (80% Wheeleri 20% Shrevei) $95/750
Tasted side by side with a similar Clande lot.
Meaty, with dessicated tropical fruits like plantain in with a nuttiness as well. More floral, almond flour, culantro, some kind of rubber, Xylitol.
Palate: More “grip” to the texture and more rubber flavor, with more nuttiness showing here on a less explosive main event of flavors that’s more even and measured with less development through the finish of desiccated plantain, minerality, light semi