Recent reviews

Catching up on some old bottles with reviews tonight lol solid price point for cocktails and as a mixer. Would grab this over Vida, Banhez, or some of the other popular picks. Can be ok by itself as a sipper but wouldn’t recommend

Really surprised this doesn’t have higher reviews, but given that the batches vary I guess that makes sense. I love this Madrecuishe and found it to be very unique. First had a pour in Boston and was drawn to the chocolatey undertones mixed with the typical grassiness and vegetal madre vibes. However, this one also has a salinity and asphalt taste to it that just is so different and keeps me coming back for more. I wish that El Jolgorio would price a bit lower given their larger batches but I love this bottle.

God damn I love this bottle. The smell hits you from a mile away– it’s the kind of bottle I have everyone smell lol even if they don’t like mezcal it objectively just smells amazing. As others have mentioned, the balance on this one is incredible. I feel like each small sip has so many layers to it– bell pepper, vegetal, green, and a really bright overall finish. The taste will linger in your mouth for a LONG time after a slight sip of this one. Just fantastic stuff!

Was at Estereo near me and they introduced me to Gusto Historico via this bottle– didn’t realize it was Puntas until after I looked at the bottle because it was loud in the place lol also this is incredibly smooth for being 60%. Very green, sweet, bright and the burn isn’t overpowering. Loved this in a 2 oz pour and would possibly buy a full bottle in the future if I start adding more puntas to my collection.

2019 batch. This is a pretty typical madrecuishe. It has the classic aromas and taste of woody pine, jalapeño peppers and ancho chiles mixed with citrus and marzipan. This would be a great everyday madrecuishe sipper – accessible, enjoyable and you don’t have to worry about running out of your special bottles.

BCX02-19
This is an amazing Bicuixe!

From the first smell you can tell this is special. The complexity of the aromas take you through a journey across the desert and through oases. Briny, citrus Bicuixe smells mix with complex notes, which are both bright and vegetal but also earthy. Garden leaves, green peppers, celery, rye and caraway seeds.

The palate is both insanely smooth and sweet at the same time, full of bready flavors and spices mixed with dried peppers and orange blossoms. It has umami to the max.

Finish and aftertaste is cinnamon water and minerals, which lasts even 20-30 minutes later.

This is definitely special juice, it has that extra quality that the best mezcal has. If I find a bottle, this will definitely be on the to-buy list.

Won’t blow your mind as a sipper but I really actually like this as a mixer for a mezcal margarita and similar price point to Oaxacan espadin mixer mezcals.

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.