El Jolgorio Todos Santos Mezcaleros Arroqueño was distilled by Maestro Mezcalero “Tio” Pedro Vasquez. This batch was distilled in 2015 and rested in glass for five years, before bottling at a traditional 55% ABV.
About this mezcal
El Jolgorio Todos Santos Mezcaleros Arroqueño is a special edition – released in 2020. Todos Santos (All Saints), an important event in Mexican culture, is a three-day celebration of friends and loved ones who have passed on. In 2020, Casa Cortes paid special tribute to the late Crispina Hernandez Romero, mother of Rolando Cortes and herself a maestra mezcalera. In lieu of a planned Todos Santos celebration in her honor (cancelled due to the pandemic), Rolando decided to release two bottles in her name. In the words of Rolando:
“My mother taught me the meaning of Dixeebe, a Zapotec word that embodies gratitude, love and thankfulness in a way that is difficult to explain. When we toast mezcal with our friends and family, we say Dixeebe to show them we are thankful to be with them. It was a tradition that was very important to my mother. Because we could not have the Todo Santos celebration we wanted in Oaxaca, we decided to bring this tradition to the world with two very special edition mezcals. These Todo Santos mezcales symbolize the most important connection between life and death, between today and tomorrow, between two hearts and between families. They are an opportunity for us to pay tribute to my mother and toast with her when she is here from the spirit world.”
Maestro Mezcalero “Tio” Pedro Vasquez is often called the King of the Arroqueño. He is the only mezcalero to distill Arroqueño batches released under the El Jolgorio label. This batch was distilled in 2015 and rested in glass for five years, before bottling at a traditional 55% ABV.
El Jolgorio Mezcal
El Jolgorio translates to “the revelry”. Jolgorios are small festivals that occur in remote, mountain villages throughout Oaxaca, Mexico. They celebrate births, deaths, weddings and Saint’s days. For centuries, the lifeblood of these celebrations has been traditional mezcal. In 2010, the Cortés family began building a collective of top mezcal distillers from around Oaxaca. As of 2019, El Jolgorio represents sixteen different families, working in ten different regions of Oaxaca, Mexico, each with its own special story. Every bottle is hand-marked with the specific details of each batch, to truly connect the drinker with the family behind the expression.
In 2017, the team behind the brand realized that certain varieties of agave would be extremely limited and they would only be able to make them available once per year (if at all). They began packaging these rare editions in black bottles to set them apart from the other releases.
The artwork on the first 8 releases was created by Alejandro Peña (Espadin, Pechuga, Tobala, Cuixe, Madrecuixe, Tepeztate, Barril and Mexicano). The next 5 labels were created by Asis Cortes (Arroqueno, Jabalin, Coyote, Tobaxiche, and Cenizo) and the Sierrudo artwork was created by Alberto Almánza.
Review this bottle
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mt_rainyer
43 reviews2015
Not an arroqueño fan to begin with (got this bottle as a gift from someone). The nose is is perfumed with violet, jasmine, and jam scent. Extremely delicate. I found the palette itself to be smoky, bbq sauce, leather kinds of flavors with just hint of the perfume that you smell on the nose. Soft given the abv. For arroqueño as a category this is a very delicate release, in the realm of agave spirits as a whole this is still in the brash/masculine side of things which isn’t personally my jam.
2015
Not an arroqueño fan to begin with (got this bottle as a gift from someone). The nose is is perfumed with violet, jasmine, and jam scent. Extremely delicate. I found the palette itself to be smoky, bbq sauce, leather kinds of flavors with just hint of the perfume that you smell on the nose. Soft given the abv. For arroqueño as a category this is a very delicate release, in the realm of agave spirits as a whole this is still in the brash/masculine side of things which isn’t personall
Matthew
9 reviewsTio Pedro, Edition 1 (2015), Bottle 475/612
5/9/22: The nose is rich with serrano, bubblegum, aloe, and a hint of smoke. This is a big expression with great body and strength, while still remaining very balanced. Banana pops out on the palate. Very creamy. The finish explodes, it is really quite bold, and I couldn’t ask for anything more.
This is an absolutely exceptional arroqueno.
betweentwotobalas
25 reviewsHarvest 2015. Bottle 243/612. 55% ABV.
Todos Santos is one of those bottles where you struggle to capture the nuance and before you know it there is nothing left to explore. As mentioned by others, notes of pink bubble gum are prominent throughout. Less noted: a deep umami base and a siren song of effervescent heat. I had other notes but Pedro’s aged-in-glass heat is where this really shines. If I were to enjoy this again I’d think less (cost value) and feel more.
Zack Klamn
542 reviewsNose – Chocolate marble cake. Mint chip.
Palate – Comes in hot n’ heavy even at 55% ABV. Semi-sweet chocolate chip. Minty heat. 80’s cologne. Very dry finish. This is almost a 4 star mezcal IMO but seeing though as it’s $200 a bottle I’ll shave it down to 3.5 stars (i.e. way better mezcals for much less). Arroquenos usually struggle to resonate with me, this is no exception.
Bastiaan
10 reviewsEdition 1, 2015. Bottle 188/612. Bubblegum, cherry, pepper, leathery, metallic. Unique and complex. Really love this one. Every sip there’s something new to discover. It starts fresh and fruity and ends leathery and more ‘heavy’, but it remains balanced from start to finish. Quite expensive but also quite special.
COak
238 reviews2015. This doesn’t speak to me the way it does for others. I really enjoy the bubblegum and cherry on palate but the finish is holding it back for me. It’s a little too metallic. The great qualities up front seem to disappear.
Tyler
663 reviewsExpensive, but a really special batch. The 2015 El Jolgorio Arroqueño batch (last year of the clear glass bottles) became one of my all-time favorite mezcals after I tried it. That is a special batch and I have a bit left. This is distilled the same year and aged in glass. The crazy part is the ABV of 55% – the highest level allowed for certified mezcal. You barely notice any heat.
This mezcal has that agave dirt note similar to the 2015 batch. Minty spice, Big League Chew, honey BBQ jerky, and grilled bananas. I’m biased but it is a good mezcal – try it while you can.
Expensive, but a really special batch. The 2015 El Jolgorio Arroqueño batch (last year of the clear glass bottles) became one of my all-time favorite mezcals after I tried it. That is a special batch and I have a bit left. This is distilled the same year and aged in glass. The crazy part is the ABV of 55% – the highest level allowed for certified mezcal. You barely notice any heat.
This mezcal has that agave dirt note similar to the 2015 batch. Minty spice, Big League Chew, honey BBQ jerk
Jonny
725 reviews2015. Bottle 58/612. Bubble gum and fresh ginger on the nose with hints of aftershave and fresh aloe as well. The palate is SUPER delicate. Notes of papaya, pineapple, and other light tropical fruits mixing with grilled pepper, old broken-in leather, dusty old books, and spearmint. This is really delightful.
GreenspointTexas
385 reviewsOne of the best arroqueno’s ive ever had. Imagine driving a ferrari down the Las Vegas strip. Sights to your left and right. Fountians, lights, the wind rolling through your hair. This one certainly entertains like that. So much to experience. Just amazing
Veggie Lover
5 reviewsEdition 1/2015 harvest. I get mint, ginger, Bubble gum and perhaps slight banana on the nose. Kinda tropical palate, along with more mint. Almost chocolatey as mint subsides.Super smooth at 110 proof. Warm but not hot. I’ll be nursing this one.