Vago Madre Cuixe from mezcalero Emigdio Jarquin Ramirez really showcases this maestro’s true mastery with Karwinskii agaves.
About this mezcal
Vago Madre Cuixe from maestro mezcalero Emigdio Jarquin is produced in Miahuatlan, Oaxaca. The maguey Madre Cuixe (agave Karwinskii) used in this mezcal is crushed by tahona and distilled in a copper refrescadera still. Emigdio is known throughout the region for his distilling expertise and all of his mezcal holds a high standard for the rest of the Miahuatlan region. Each batch may vary slight. Check your batch for details.
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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Ben P
135 reviewsBatch E-10-MC-20 ABV: 50.5%
Nose: milk chocolate, mesquite, pine, rain water, mulch
Palate and Finish: Chile Orange, grapefruit, pine sap, lemon, moving to the finish I get some peanut butter, light chocolate, cinnamon, cumin, white pepper on the finish
Solid karwinksii. I’ve had a bottle of this and as it’s aired out it’s continues to get better. Good stuff
Golden_3lephant
8 reviewsLOT E-1 4-MC-20
Mezcalero: Emigdio Jarquin Ramirez
Region: El Nanche, Miahuatlan, Mexico
ABV: 50.6%
Production: 100% cement tahona crushed agave karwinskii (madrecuishe), conical pit cooked, wood tank fermentation, distilled twice in copper + refrescador
Appearance: crystal clear, legs & tears abundant.
Nose: grass, hay, horse blanket
Palate: licorice, peppercorn heat, wet cement
Finish: looong minty, herbal burn with a hint of salinity
Notes: admittedly it’s my only experience with mezcal on the higher end, and it is quite a departure from budget bottles. there were no fruity flavors to be found, nor smoke… just a blast of herbaceous floral complexity that turns to moist earth, then a warm hug. I am definitely going to pick up Jarquin’s espadin & hope to come across the ensemble or any of his other releases in the future.
LOT E-1 4-MC-20
Mezcalero: Emigdio Jarquin Ramirez
Region: El Nanche, Miahuatlan, Mexico
ABV: 50.6%
Production: 100% cement tahona crushed agave karwinskii (madrecuishe), conical pit cooked, wood tank fermentation, distilled twice in copper + refrescador
Appearance: crystal clear, legs & tears abundant.
Nose: grass, hay, horse blanket
Palate: licorice, peppercorn heat, wet cement
Finish: looong minty, herbal burn with a hint of salinity
Notes: admittedly it’s my only experience with me
Jam
176 reviewsLot E-10-MC-20, April 2020 production date, 50.5% abv
Review #12: Full of bitter dark chocolate and leather, there’s some minerality and earthiness, then mid palate there’s some vegetal jalapeños and a grassiness. Lots of strong and bold flavors on this that really pops
GMAD
96 reviewsLOT E-04-MC-20 March 2020, 50.9%
Nose – Fresh and musty – Tree bark, leather, wet asphalt.
Palate – Sweet and hot citrus; sour oranges.
Finish – Grassy finish.
No frills, just really good.
Imperium
112 reviewsA delicious expression full of flavor that really lingers, even 30 minutes after finishing on the palate.
Best madrecuishe I’ve had so far, so I bought a bottle.
This one is super clean and refreshing on entry, like wet stone. Aromas and taste of grape candy. Flavors burst in your mouth of peppers, melons, sandstone. Probably the juiciest mezcal I’ve tried to date.
LOT E-19-MC-20
Dom
29 reviewsNose: light smoke, vegetal, minerals
Palate: I get a strong jalapeño note that is delightful along with a very green / vegetal and dry flavor.
Overall excellent mezcal and at an unbelievable price
Forpowder
113 reviewsLot E 13 MC 18 49.8% Aromas out of the bottle are like being in a desert full of cactus and musty dirt with the typical strong acetone overtones. Flavors are hot with cinnamon and burnt orange and Woody flavors along with Green Cactus. Little to no smoke. The Finish is incredibly long with a toasted licorice root like flavor amazing Mezcal.
exileonmorrison
10 reviewsA subtle fruity aroma of green apples and champagne grapes evolves into a bold and satisfying flavor of lemon drop candies and caramel apples. It is not overly sweet, however, as it lingers on the pallet for long after first taste. One of Vago’s finer offerings.
meserole
73 reviewsI was hitting a string of misses with the famed Vago line, and this is definitely my favorite of what I’ve had thus far — this one is full of complexity and rather drinkable despite higher than usual ABV. It’s fruit-forward but less perfumed/aromatic than other madrecuixe varieties I’ve had. Very mineral, dusty flavors that feel to me like a nice merger of Karwinskii vegetal properties with the more rugged flavors of an Americana.
September 2017 batch.
Zack Klamn
542 reviewsLOT E-04-MC-20
Nose – Wet, grassy earthiness. Koi pond. Violets. Subtle black licorice.
Palate – Heat is suiting for this 50.9% batch. Very floral. Slightly chalkiness to the viscous mouth feel. Almost ripe raspberry. The smallest hint of macaroni and cheese. The finish is reminiscent of his espadin. Salty, BBQ artichoke aftertaste.
SoloAgave
86 reviews06/2019 430 L: tasted side by side with the ensamble and this was secondary although a very nice entry and if you’re a single agave lover of Karwinskii then you’ll be thrilled. Just had more heat and harshness when tasted alongside the ensamble although the peppery and mineral and delivered the goods and the flavor lingered longer.
GeorgePBurdell
49 reviewsLot E-07-MC-18
50.4%
Viscous, round, and deep. Have to coax the aromas and flavors out. I get grass, mint, minerals, earth, and more. Pleasantly warm, light smoke, and spice on the finish.
Rorschach
43 reviewsVery hot at 50.4% but get over it after a few sips. The maguey comes through with the vegetal/mineral notes. There are some introduced notes from the maker that really add to it, very nice mouthfeel, very nice signature.
Emigdio Jarquin
June 2018, 413 L
LOT E-07-MC-18
50.7% ABV
Rakhal
430 reviewsE-16-MC-17 Emigdio Jarquin. Sweet, grassy, and spicy. Fresh cut grass, artichoke, fresh ground pepper, orange peel, caramel popcorn, dried ancho chile, cayenne pepper.
Squashplayer
36 reviewsJust found this in the back depths of my collection unopened until now. From May 2016 by Emigdio Jarquín Ramírez. Initially very vegetal and grassy evolving into minerals after a few minutes in glass. Another fine example of madrecuixe that I like but am not blown away by. 3 1/2 – 4 stars. Lot E-08 MC-16
thamthong
47 reviewslot E-18-MC-17 by emigidio, 50.9% abv. deep minerality with vegetal and very lightly floral undertones on the nose. as with all the vago i’ve had the pleasure of sampling thus far, roasty toasty notes are present in the form of kettle corn, both on the nose and palate. palate is very, very rich both in texture and flavor. a lovely, prickly bite at the end right before the lingering finish. beautiful stuff. my first sip of this immediately brought mezcalero #16 to mind, to the point where i had to pour some to try next to this. the mezcalero is more finessed and boasts a fruity acidity that turns everything up to 11. that said, this is one of the best madrecuixes i’ve tasted.
lot E-18-MC-17 by emigidio, 50.9% abv. deep minerality with vegetal and very lightly floral undertones on the nose. as with all the vago i’ve had the pleasure of sampling thus far, roasty toasty notes are present in the form of kettle corn, both on the nose and palate. palate is very, very rich both in texture and flavor. a lovely, prickly bite at the end right before the lingering finish. beautiful stuff. my first sip of this immediately brought mezcalero #16 to mind, to the point w
razorbackmike
161 reviewsamazing!almost no hint of its high alcohol content.nose is floral and veggie.the taste follows the scent.entry is sweet agave and honey notes.midway is vegetal-tomato-cucumber-potato.the finish is a soft landing with slight smoke.this was a jarquin edition.absolutely wonderful!
COak
238 reviewsMezcalero: Emigdio Jarquin. April 2016. Lot: E-06-MC-16. Floral on the nose as well as on the tongue. It’s sweet with fruity flavors. A bit of spice lingers on the tongue. One of my favorite Madre Cuixe.
Jonny
729 reviewsLot E-06-MC-16. 181 total liters in batch. From Emigdio Jarquin. Copper w/Refrescador still. Lots of candied fruit and mineral aromas. The palate is more floral than vegetal, which was a bit of a surprise. Notes of lavender, candied orange, fresh mango, and light pollen. The finish is hot with a deep burn that lingers after the sip.
Tyler
665 reviewsEarth and minerals on the nose. This is a bit warmer than other madre-cuishe mezcals I’ve tried. Nice notes of raspberries and overall fruit with some slight copper finish. Tasty stuff from Vago Mezcal per usual. March 2016 batch from Emigdio Jarquin, didn’t catch the lot number.