Recent reviews

As opposed to the Chino, I found this one to be really interesting and easy to drink! Sampled it at a friends house and was immediately drawn to the smell, almost like a pack of skittles— super fruity. The taste integrates some of that fruit and tropical fruit flavor with a nice balance of smoke and the aftertaste is the fruit again. I was really impressed by this one and while I probably wouldn’t buy it myself, I’d definitely enjoy it again on someone else’s dime or at a restaurant 🙂

Went on a limb and gave this one a shot and kind of wish I wouldn’t have. I wasn’t really too impressed by this expression and there are some light fruit flavors and the pink lemonade that others mentioned was somewhat present but I think the smokiness overpowered this one. I think if the smoke was more of a flavor and less of a burn, I would’ve been more into it but I’d prefer to grab something else in the future!

2023 release Tepextate shines exquisitely in this year’s batch. Notes of green pepper and cracked jalapeño on the nose, and hints of wild flower in the perfume.

Taste profile of citrus, orange, and wild honey. Hints of cream and charred fruit linger in the background while vegetal notes dissipate over time.

Medium finish with the evolution of flavor opens up as the mezcal settles. I recommend opening the bottle and letting it sit in the glass over time as you enjoy.

Lote SMS002F/20 botttle 239/980 47.5% Tio Felix Aromas out of the bottle or sugary sweetness a little bit of smoke surprisingly but some kind of fermented sweet candy flavor that I’ve never experienced before. Wow the chase follows with some kind of sweet licorice fennel agave acidic smokiness that’s just awesome. For the price point this is excellent Moscow I love the mix of the two Agaves

Living in Chicago is great for many reasons, one being that I was able to snag what I think is one of the last bottles of this from Moreno’s. would be 4/4.5 stars but made it 5 stars because of hometown bias and the people and selection at Moreno’s are always top notch 🙂 Nose of tropical fruit, saltwater and ocean breeze, and minerality and light smoke. Drinking this at first, the profile read more like a tepeztate with bell pepper/fruit forward flavors but the potatorum follows the rest of the way. I also get green jolly rancher/green apple notes as well. Signature Rey Campero burn is present but not as prominent as some of their other selections. Great bottle and glad I have one now from a collector’s standpoint!

very tasty sipper.the nose takes a minute to open up.very floral.lilac,honeysuckle and roses.the palate has the same floral character with vanilla,smoke and some sweet orange.similar profile to other jabalis but seems softer and with a delicate complexity.this does not reveal its 50 % abv.it take more than one sip to appreciate this gentle complex spirit.jabalis have a unique taste thats hard to describe.cost was around $100.00.very fine mezcal and bargain.

Had this one in a blind taste at the 5S tasting room with Carlos in Oaxaca. He was trying to get us to change our perception on Espadin and did so with this one and the Espadin de Cuero. The cuero was my favorite but this one really stood out as well. easily the two best espadins I’ve had to date. Really complex and notes of chocolate, a bit floral, and some green notes as well. Underlying Minas flavor is present but not as prominent as the clay pot distillation expressions from this region. Not going to find it in the states but worth a try in Oaxaca and definitely a must to go to the 5S tasting room (they share with NETA as well).

bbq sauce, watermelon, apple, yogurt, grape, lime, cherry, pomegranate, cream, snap pea, char, grapefruit peel, lemon balm, soil
FEL-TOB-001, 49%

watermelon, cherry, peach, yogurt, sweet mint, lemon peel, strawberry, banana, cantaloupe, lime, green chile, grape, brine, char, pine
José Díaz Bustamante, MIA-T2003US, 46.39%

Lote 06. Strong aromas of slate, freshly fallen leaves, and cloves. There are also some aromas like dry erase markers, pencil lead, and gun powder. The palate again is rich with slate, and notes of root vegetables like potatoes, yams, and turnips.

Lot 05. Bottle 94. Aromas of citrus with notes of orange, grapefruit, apricot. There are also aromas of slate and chalky minerals. The palate is a bit sharp, but softens up with time in the glass. It has notes of salted caramel, toasted almonds, sticky corn syrup. This is a really nice expression from Sola de Vega, with some really deep minerality and fruity notes that I enjoy a lot.

Lot: 18/19. Pedro Hernández. 47% ABV.

This lot has really softened over time. Shared notes of Lemon pie filling, lemon-scented windex, roasted agave, lavender and vanilla on nose and palate. A sharp burn interrupts midway and lingers. Cardamom, black pepper and candied fennel on finish. A nice hit of spice and heat. Newer Koch labels have more info but it’s not clear how many bottles are in this lot or year of production (assume 2019).

I can usually finish just about anything but I had to stop and couldn’t finish this 2 oz pour. I really don’t like anise flavor and this one is an anise bomb. High priced since it’s a pechuga as well. I give it a baseline 3 stars because I really love the 5S brand but this is just not it for me.

Not an awful sipper; but definitely made for cocktails. Smooth, with notes of tropical fruits a hint of syrupy sweetness. Weak and lacking punch at 80 proof. LOT 34. Bottle 6061 of 7200.

SERIES: 5 2019, 48.1%

Nose – Tart, sharp, and sweet. Earthy and floral; springtime. Honey, lavender, sugar, wet grass, some lumber, and so much agave!

Palate – Rich, savory, and smoky. Plums, barbecue sauce, caramel, dark chocolate-covered raisins, and some ripe grapes.

Finish – Funky, smoky, and bittersweet. Raisins, grapefruit, and charred bbq bits.

Very brash! In the earlier sips I wasn’t really feeling this. But after a few more and letting it air out, it became really delicious! Very deep and complex. A little hot and a bit smoky. This is your quintessential Mezcal; hot and heavy, a roadside gem. Potentially higher score later down the road if this relaxes a bit in the bottle.

LOT#: YJ06-21, 48%, BOTTLE#: 2422/3000, Wild, 375ml

Nose – Tart, sweet, grassy, and slightly metallic. Peaches, apples, coconut, and fresh-scent laundry detergent.

Palate – Vegetal, savory, and a bit of minerality and spice as well. Cinnamon, teriyaki sauce, jasmine tea, hoisin sauce, some smoke like charred hamburgers, and a touch of ripe oranges.

Finish – Tart and savory. Anise, margarine, and something smoky and sweet, like Peking duck.

Interesting flavors! I was searching for a value find and hoped this was gonna be a sleeper hit; almost but not quite. It’s fine by all means. It’s wild, very approachable and definitely tasty, but I wish it was a bit more impressive. All the flavors just don’t jive to me. Very hot and kind of thin. To be fair it was a fresh bottle, so I might have to revisit this later for an improved score.

LOT#: YJ17-20, 48%, BOTTLE#: 01828/10000, 200ml

Nose – Funky and sweet. Tamarind, grapes, raisins, old socks, and a bit of some permanent marker.

Palate – Hot and tangy. A bit floral and savory. Coconut water, barbecue sauce, and fresh pineapple.

Finish – A rich bittersweetness. Macadamia nuts and red grapes.

Not bad. I wouldn’t overlook this if options are limited. A little hot, but can be enjoyable.

tasted this blind

Nose: citrus, yogurt, minerality, lemon cream

Palate: more citrus, some herbs, cilantro, lemon, some char. Finish is slightly lemon, yogurt, lemongrass, sweet peppers

This isn’t complex but doesn’t have anything bad going for it either. Solid espadin! I would recommend to someone looking for a cabinet staple

I’ve had a two oz pour twice now and it really stood out to me both times. The only brand I’ve ever sampled with the Azul in isolation and not part of an ensemble. Really unique in flavor profile, almost like a dark fruit bomb with the presence of the blue Weber underlying and a perfect amount of smoke and minerality. I finished these pours quicker than usual as I kept wanting to come back to it! Wish the bottle itself was at a slightly lower price point, but I loved this stuff!

I’ve bought two bottles of this now and it’s just really damn good. Very similar to his father’s work and well balanced in the flavor profile. Lots of green notes from the karwinskii in here and a mild burn from the espadin and Mexicano. Layers upon layers and really hard to go wrong for the price if you can still find it. I think I cleaned out my local spot for this one so might be my last adventure with this bottle 🙂