Vago Mezcals are generally a reason to rejoice and this is no exception. Mezcal Vago Cuixe has a roasted banana and acetone aroma.
About this mezcal
Mezcal Vago Cuixe from Aquilino Garcia Lopez has a roasted banana and acetone aroma. It has a mineral and pine needle body with a dry smoky finish. The maguey cuishe is a thin varietal that has very slender pinas and floral aroma that shines in the Mezcal. Vago Mezcals are generally a reason to rejoice and this is no exception.
Vago Mezcal
Mezcal Vago began when co-founder Judah Kuper visited a hospital in Oaxaca, Mexico. He fell in love with the nurse who treated him. Her father, Aquilino Garcia, was a sustenance farmer who also produced mezcal. Judah and Aquilino, along with Judah’s longtime friend Dylan Sloan, launched Mezcal Vago. In 2013, their first exported bottles arrived in Texas. Each of their mezcals is produced naturally in a traditional palenque with no additives. The brand aims to empower both the master craftsmen with a celebration of his art. Also the consumer by giving them the knowledge they need to find a great mezcal. The brand plants 3 agaves for each single agave they harvest. Their goal is to end the use wild agave by 2025 for most of their releases.
In 2017, Mezcal Vago began using different color labels for their different mezcaleros. Emigdio Jarquin (blue label) distills in copper with refrescador. Aquilino and Joel Barriga (tan and gold labels respectively) distill in copper. Tio Rey (red label) distills in clay pots. All their mezcaleros use different water sources and make different distillation cuts. In 2018, Mezcal Vago established an investment partnership with Samson and Surrey. With the new partnership, each Mezcal Vago mezcalero has a stake in Samson and Surrey.
In 2021, Mezcal Vago went through its first major brand redesign since their launch in 2013.
Learn more Mezcal Vago:
- The Mezcal Vago Tasting Room in Oaxaca on Mezcal Reviews
- A podcast interview with co-founder Judah Kuper on Show de Vie Podcast w/Mike G
- The Mezcal Vago blog Mas Mezcal
Review this bottle
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Matthew
9 reviewsAquilino Garcia, Lot A-04-C-20, March 2020
1/25/22: Strong acetone note on the nose, with some carmelized tropical fruit notes. This is a big, bold mezcal. There’s some earthiness to it, the predominant profile though is blend of strong vegetal notes and ripe, funky fruit (almost like the hogo present in some high-ester rums, the aggressive fruit funk of Jamaica combined with some of the more chemical notes present in some Martinique rums). The finish is big and sustained, with some of the sweeter fruit staying more than the acetone-y notes.
Overall, it took me a little while to take in this mezcal fully, but once I did, it was quite delicious.
Aquilino Garcia, Lot A-04-C-20, March 2020
1/25/22: Strong acetone note on the nose, with some carmelized tropical fruit notes. This is a big, bold mezcal. There’s some earthiness to it, the predominant profile though is blend of strong vegetal notes and ripe, funky fruit (almost like the hogo present in some high-ester rums, the aggressive fruit funk of Jamaica combined with some of the more chemical notes present in some Martinique rums). The finish is big and sustained, with some of the
zeepuzzler
25 reviewsLot A-04-C-20. One of the last few bottles from Don Aquilino in my collection. Light bananas foster on the nose along with mango, apple, and something slightly metallic. Wet screen door? The mouthfeel is creamy, but there’s a drying bitterness that nags at the sides of my tongue and begs me to take another sip; it numbs my lips. The palate is lush with mint, sweet green bell pepper, and banana leaf. Dried herbs and minerals dance in the finish: oregano, lavender, chalk, and gravel dust. Lovely.
Lot A-04-C-20. One of the last few bottles from Don Aquilino in my collection. Light bananas foster on the nose along with mango, apple, and something slightly metallic. Wet screen door? The mouthfeel is creamy, but there’s a drying bitterness that nags at the sides of my tongue and begs me to take another sip; it numbs my lips. The palate is lush with mint, sweet green bell pepper, and banana leaf. Dried herbs and minerals dance in the finish: oregano, lavender, chalk, and gravel dus
t8ke
144 reviewsLot A-04-C-20 — Rests heavy on the palate, complex with plenty going on. Slate, bell pepper, rainwater and bright fruit like apples, pears, kiwi. Creamy on the back palate, light on smoke, a bit of cedar.
Delightful. Aquilino, you produced some elegant batches.
Zack Klamn
542 reviewsNose – Great, earthy nose – wet jungle with tropical flowers. Nice banana note.
Palate – Banana. Tobacco leaf. What I love about this is the back end heat or warmth. A long finish that I really feel I’m the back of my throat and the whole ride down to the stomach.
This is a one ounce sample but I want the bottle.
James Christian
45 reviewsLot: A-04-C-20
Nose: Very light Banana dessert on the nose. A bit of caramel and ethanol. Not as strong to me as some other reviews describe
Palate: Goes up and to the back really fast and a light burn lasts for a split second. After that it quickly thins out in the mouth. Finish is really short. Then after about 30 seconds it hits the lips and gets tingly.
Taste: For me this is not the typical Cuishe, but is a unique expression and really really good. So good that halfway through the bottle I scoured the earth and found another. It is a bit thinner and brighter, almost singing with subtle notes. More mint and mineral than vegetal. Light smoke and syrup.
Lot: A-04-C-20
Nose: Very light Banana dessert on the nose. A bit of caramel and ethanol. Not as strong to me as some other reviews describe
Palate: Goes up and to the back really fast and a light burn lasts for a split second. After that it quickly thins out in the mouth. Finish is really short. Then after about 30 seconds it hits the lips and gets tingly.
Taste: For me this is not the typical Cuishe, but is a unique expression and really really good. So good that halfway through the bottle I
COak
229 reviewsSeptember 2018. I picked this bottle up right after Aqulino’s passing. I wish I had gotten the chance to meet the man, his mezcal is some of the best ever but not for the faint of heart. I get the banana notes on the nose. The pallet is minty and mineraly.
LittleArm
32 reviewsSeptember 2018
A-18 C-18
Very sweet and syrupy on the nose. Just like bananas foster. Really enjoying just sniffing it. Very hot initially but it fades fast and really opens up with lots of sweet tropical fruit. Little bit of roasted veggies too. Finish is super minty and tingly and lingers for a while in the best way
GeorgePBurdell
49 reviewsLot A-02-C- 20
Banana esters, caramel, and mint on the nose. Sweet cooked agave, juicy fruit gum, and a nice heat on the tongue. Earthy mint comes in on the finish.
Meady
53 reviewsPacked with flavour!
Big banana on the nose, with caramel. It carries from far too.
Sugary fruit, more banana, earth and smokiness, then to light mint, .. Long finish.
A little hot as expected, but by no means unpleasant. Unfortunately I could only get hold of a sample, I would have loved a bit more time with this one. Enjoyed every moment.
Fair play, Aquilino. RIP.
51.7%
HighWine
76 reviewsJune 2014 Bottling
Big nose that hits you from arm’s length with aromas of caramel, banana, tobacco, spearmint, and wintergreen.
Slippery in the mouth and very pleasing on the palate. Coats the tongue and roof of the mouth. Significant booziness that numbs the lips and leaves a warmth in the throat.
Taste is a wild ride across different layers of flavors. Sweet up front with agave syrup, flan, and caramel. Following that is leather and dried leaves, finished off with mint and dehydrated orange peel. Earlier sips showed jalapeño pepper but not as much in the follow ups.
Bold and assertive, sweet and flavorful. A real treat from the master.
June 2014 Bottling
Big nose that hits you from arm’s length with aromas of caramel, banana, tobacco, spearmint, and wintergreen.
Slippery in the mouth and very pleasing on the palate. Coats the tongue and roof of the mouth. Significant booziness that numbs the lips and leaves a warmth in the throat.
Taste is a wild ride across different layers of flavors. Sweet up front with agave syrup, flan, and caramel. Following that is leather and dried leaves, finished off with mint and dehydrated
GreenspointTexas
385 reviewsThis spirit hits you in the face like a ton of bricks. Hot and heavy as hell, there is no mid-palate on this ride, and no seatbelts or safety harnesses either. A lot different than Cuixe’s im used to. Hibiscus, rose petals, and some paint thinner. Not what I was expecting at all. Will revisit after oxygen has had time with this pour. RIP Aquilino
Dylan
7 reviewsLot E-04-C-17 Emigdio Jarquin. February 2017, 170 liters. 51.1% ABV. Perfume and floral notes, Cooked agave on the palate. Juicy fruit and candy on the finish.
Lot A-09-C-16 Aquilino Garcia March 2016, 1048 liters. 51.7% ABV. Aromas of dried fruits, licorice and grilled chili’s. Continues through the finish with smoke and chili powder candy.
Spirit_Chaser
20 reviewsLot: A-06-C-16, 50.5%abv, March 2016, Aquilino Garcia
Phenomal nose! Big aromas of charred agave, vegetal, light mint, mango, and vanilla. Taste follows suit with roasted agave, wintergreen mint, green bananas, and mango. Finishes minty, roasted vegetation, with a huge peppery kick. Alcohol burn is definitely present and ends slightly dry, bitter, and earthy. Very creamy mouthfeel. This is an in-your-face, big and bold mezcal and I absolutely love it.
Nic Hnastchenko
108 reviewsLOT A-29-DV-C-14 from Emigdio Garcia Lopez, June 2014. Might have struck gold here, think I need to make another run to this liquor store and see what else is hiding on their shelves. Love a mezcal over 50%, with a fruity nose and sweet vegetal taste. Excited to see how this one evolves.’
Also tasted the November 2016 from Aquilino Garcia Lopez. Also soo good, side by side with the rest of their lineup, this was my favorite.
thamthong
47 reviewslot A-06-C-16 by aquilino, 50.5% abv. bitey roasted agave and charred vegetables, earthy, acetone, campfire, a bit spicy with undertones of unsweetened cocoa and chalk. big mezcal with a kick. hunting lodge juice.
Tyler
643 reviewsI lean a bit towards the Cuixe mezcals from Emigdio over Aquilino, but recently I tasted a June 2014 bottle of 100% Cuixe from Aquilino and it blew me away. The flavors were like a sugar galaxy explosion along with tropical fruit. 585.5 liters total.
razorbackmike
155 reviewsaquilino edition.90% cuixe and 10% espadin.good mezcal and a slight step up from the regular espadin.similar in taste with a bit more floral and vegetal notes .not a very sweet mezcal but pleasant and smooth.i am a huge fan of the vago line but this is not my favorite version.UPDATE 2-16-19.this bottle has rested for about a year since it was first opened.more flavors have emerged in a beautiful way.the madre and the cuixe are becoming more enjoyable.it is very earthy and vegetal but retains some agave sweetness.the flavors are more pronounced and i get more flowers in the aroma and taste.4 and a half stars.delicious!!!
aquilino edition.90% cuixe and 10% espadin.good mezcal and a slight step up from the regular espadin.similar in taste with a bit more floral and vegetal notes .not a very sweet mezcal but pleasant and smooth.i am a huge fan of the vago line but this is not my favorite version.UPDATE 2-16-19.this bottle has rested for about a year since it was first opened.more flavors have emerged in a beautiful way.the madre and the cuixe are becoming more enjoyable.it is very earthy and vegetal but retains som
Keith
35 reviewsLot A-21-C-15, 52.1% ABV, Aquilino; this was not an easy-drinker. I had to focus to find rewards. Initial impressions of ethereal solvents and Gitanes Brunes were hard to reconcile with the marvelous agave characteristics deep within. Toward the end of this bottle’s life, wonderfully complex agave flavors moved forward. This Mezcal expression was BOLD.