Recent reviews

Disappointed. Aging (I tried joven which was okay) castrated this mezcal so far. Got only a sip and I am happy I didn’t get more. Probably aged mezcals aren’t my thing

I got a bottle of it as a gift from someone who doesn’t have much knowledge about mezcals. It ain’t terrible, but I didn’t fall in love either.

Smoke focused. Not much else there. Very nice bottle design, but also doesn’t look like Mezcal, it wouldn’t catch my eye on the shelf.

Enjoyable, nice for cocktails.

My first pechuga to try so it holds a very special place in my heart 🙂

Really nice. The bottle looked different from this on site but all other informations are the same. Not sure about the batch as I tried it at the bar. Pleasure to sip.

I was very excited to try it as it was first aged mezcal I saw. It didn’t have the character of mezcal. Super disappointed

Plain. Surprisingly expensive:(

Really enjoyable. Reoccurring bottle for me.

Batch: MCTEL 22f
Bottle: 200ml
ABV: 45.8%

Nose: Watermelon candy, very sweet, nail polish

Palate: cotton candy, minerality, rice, apple

Finish: light cotton candy, minerality

Thoughts: Pretty nice. I like the sweet flavor it has. The finish is quite long and pleasant as well.

LOT ID: TAM-T 12/10/2021
ABV: 47.8%

Nose: olives, gasoline, lemon pledge, citrus

Palate: minerality, citrus skins, lemon skin, light eucalyptus, subtle sweetness, light rubber

Finish: pretty citrusy, with some minerality

Thoughts: it’s tasty, but I’m not the biggest fan of the citrus skin flavor that I’m getting. The aftertaste is pretty strong.

LOT ID: TEP-C 02-23-2020
ABV: 52.2%

Nose: pine, a little cheesy like an aged cheddar, apple, apple cider vinegar.

Palate: a lot of minerality, caramel, not too much going on here. Feels a little muted, but the mouth feel is good.

Finish: minerality, some slight sweetness

Thoughts: this didn’t taste as complex for me as other reviews are posting. Might be due to it’s age.

Batch: 8M23-A

Nose: This has a nice Cuishe woodiness to it, layered with earth and mossy wood. Mulch, BBQ chips. It’s distinctly clay on the nose to me. Plus this like funky cheesiness, more like manchego

Palate & Finish: Mint chocolate, watermelon rind, light citrus, whipped cocoa, coconut milk, earthy and clay from the clay pot, it has a slight hazelnut cream cheese element, then a little bbq sauce, tangy honey peppers. Finish is white pepper, eucalyptus, holiday spices, and Chile chocolate, espresso. Finish stays forever. Just minty and cocoa like an Andes mint.

This stuff is awesome. Plenty of karwinskii profile going on here but beautifully balanced with clay bringing chocolate and espresso.

Lote: JAEC1122
Aromas of wet clay (as others mentioned) and some of that new tennis ball / synthetic smell. Hard to recognize this as an Espadin.
Taste at first seemed a bit hot. Some minerality, bonfire woody/smokiness, but along with something a bit synthetic too which I don’t particular like along with some leather/rawhide notes. Not really too sweet or fruity as I normally enjoy with an espadin, although there is some slight red apple notes at the very end. Not bad at all, but not my favorite from this line. 3.25 Stars
Review #193

Batch: SEM-ARR-002
Bottle: 909
ABV: 46.4%

Nose: a little peach, cotton candy, heavy alcohol smell

Palate: light cotton candy, butterscotch, minerality, some bitterness at the end.

Finish: nice finish I have some caramel flavors. The bitterness goes away a little bit. A little heat.

Thoughts: A little underwhelming. It has some nice flavors at that start, which are a little too weak. The end has some bitterness that is off putting. I’m not the biggest fan.

Bottle: 85 ABV: 47.4%

Nose: pineapple, strawberry, mint, slight funkiness, sweet

Palate: pineapple (in the front), kiwi, rotten pineapple (in the end), pine (in the end), parmesan cheese (in the end)

Finish: bitterness, umami, cheese

Thoughts: Wow! This is one the craziest mezcales I’ve ever had. The first sip I took had me yelling. It’s this crazy combo of very sweet tropical flavors at the start that roll into this bitter, overripe fruit parmesan cheese thing that is just insane. So happy to have tasted this because it reminded me how diverse mezcal is. 10/10 recommend but definitely a small dose sipper.

Batch: ARTP 06-21 200ml Bottle ABV: 54.8%

Nose: sweet, nail polish

Palate: corn, light caramel, sugar

Finish: corn, hotness

Thoughts: This had a lot of heat, but was pretty tasty. I couldn’t taste much smoke. I felt it was similar to vago elote and had that corn flavor to it. Enjoyable though!

Lote: JAME1122
Slightly creamy and candied sweetness on the nose.
Interesting taste….I don’t get a lot of the tanginess I normally associate with the clay distillation, although it’s there in the background. More candied sweetness…sweet-tarts, banana runts. Some chocolate, bitter cacao notes for sure along with a slightly yeasty/bread taste. Very intriguing mexicano!
Review #192

2022, Lot 001, bottle 40/72, 53% !
One of the best mezcals I have ever tasted. We were in Oaxaca this year and I don’t remember where I first tried it but it was early on in our visit and it got my attention. I tracked it down on our last night there in a bar and only bought one bottle. I have never had a mezcal unfold in the mouth like a fine wine like this. This just unpacks itself on the pallete with a beautiful balanced notes of mint, citrus, peppermint that finishes so clean. Crazy good. Another testament of a good mezcal for me is when the maestro can put the flavor up there without noticing the 53%, it’s that good. Can’t wait to try all the rest of Cruz de Diamantes.

March 10, 2021 47.5% abv Aged in glass for 15 months

I have tried just about all of these Aguerrido releases and really enjoyed them. None has been disappointing and all really shine. Part of what has brought me around about cupreata in general and Guerrero mezcales in particular.

The nose on this one reminded me of fresh cut bamboo and custard or creme brûlée. The flavors had burnt sugar, artificial sweetener, cinnamon syrup, ginger. There are some earthy and vegatal notes as well with a hint of cilantro and mild black pepper heat. Not the chocolate or green onion flavors that I occasionally get with cupreatas, but solid nonetheless. Good value if you can find a bottle under a $100.