Budget Espadin that has everything you look for in a cheaper bottle and I prefer it to Del Maguey Vida if given the choice. Strong ABV that will hold up in a cocktail and provides the caramelized/smoke profile you need for drinks with syrups/juices. Not what I’d want to sit and sip and savor but I see this working perfectly for anyone looking to stay under the $40 threshold for Mezcal.
Has that funkiness you find in many refrascador style mezcal. A different take on Tepeztate and from the same village where they make Banhez Tep but quite different surprisingly. Also, a great Palenque to visit if you ever make it to Amatengo. Clean, calm, with some pepper, wet earth/stone, and nice green fruits. The Barril and Tobala were also delicious.
I’ve always resisted Tepeztate as its profile just doesn’t appeal to me but this one is my favorite expression of this sought-after agave. All the trappings you look for with sweet jalapeno pepper, crisp green veggies, fresh, cilantro, and perfectly balanced jammy sweetness that I seldom taste in a Tep. Had this another time as part of a tasting menu at Cuish Mezcaleria in Oaxaca and it blew away their other expressions.
Another really new approach that has me looking to get another shot at this bottle. Lots of flavors going on here but I got sweet orange, apple, nuts, earthy, rich, sage, and of course a little dry gamey taste from the deer. Pretty pricy but memorable and worth trying if you get the opportunity.
Had this at Puro Burro as part of an Origen Raiz tasting of their new lineup. This was from the first edition and although I didn’t want to buy a whole bottle if you’re looking for a truly unique expression with no real equal in mezcal – look no further. Hard to write this review – I was stumped but there was a chalky/sage/chaparral/mint profile and for lack of a better term it just tasted old (in a good way). I’m excited to revisit this in the future when it’s released more widely in the US.
Visited the Ramos family palenque and had an opportunity to try around 15 expressions. I love their mezcal and I can’t say there were any that I wouldn’t rate highly. Nevertheless, I give extra credit to this Coyote produced in May 2021 because it just stood out in terms of complexity with a delicious mesquite BBQ flavor that comes across early then follows up with some baking spice, earthiness/soil, and a great finish that will have you finding new tasting notes long after each sip.
Great option for a low cost entry into Salmiana. Even found at some Whole Foods this has all the green notes you look for in this agave. For the price – this is a winner if you enjoy the vegetal, jalepeno, and fresh flavors you tend to find with this unique agave.
One of my favorite expressions right now – just a really clean Mexicano that comes in around $80 which is very reasonable. Baking spices stood out most to me with just a killer sweet potato/pumpkin pie hints I can’t get enough of. Miahuatlán has quickly become one of my favorite regions for production – looking forward to more of these small batch offerings in the future.
My first expression from Puebla – hard to zero in on the profile but I picked up a very dry, grape leaf (dolmas), and lightly bitter. Reminds me of a Pisco almost. Not sure how to review this accurately as in the category of Tobalá I would say to look elsewhere as there are some wonderful options in this price range ($90-$100) but as a unique expression it is worth trying. I prefer the Durango from the Leyenda lineup although the profiles are dramatically different.
Vanilla sets up this low cost offering and although there’s nothing outstanding about this mezcal there’s also nothing to detract from the great value (under $30). One dimensional with a sweet/vanilla profile. If you’re looking for a value/well/cocktail/shot mezcal and don’t want to break the bank this is a winner. Starting to see it pop up at Whole Foods even and the rating takes into account the value.
Sweet green pepper at first sip – almost like a really high end Salmiana. Finishes with a lingering ground pepper/vegetal/grassy/faint mesquite note. Tastes very clean and as is the case with most Banhez expressions this goes down all too easy. Nothing out of line here and I’d be happy try it again although as Tepextate has become more sought after there are some really complex and memorable expressions out there that are perhaps a bit more expensive but will worth the extra spend.
Donaciano Pacheco 9/18 Lot# C0470478. Really easy to sip – not much heat considering its 94 proof. All the flavors are well balanced yet subtle: herbal, sweet citrus, dry, and earthy. A really nice blend of some core tasting notes – comes in around $85-100 a bottle. Can’t go wrong here if you lean towards the gentle/subtle/complex expressions.
A very reasonable price for a clay pot distillation expression from Santa Catarina Minas. Just not enough going on here to get excited about although this is easy to drink. I get smoke up front a tequila profile to go along with that mint/clay/smoke.
Lot 31 – 47.59% (make sure to check the ABV of your bottle they range from 42%-48). Lightly sweet, suspiciously smooth, muted smoke, and fruity with no burn or bite (just want to hold it in your mouth). I heard that Edgar uses one pass in copper and the second pass through the still in stainless steel so I’m not certain if that plays a role but this is the incredibly smooth. Great floral sweetness on the nose and just all around killer for $50 if you like the profile. Love the brand and their story. ***Medjool dates was a great note from @rakhal – pinpoint accuracy
Bright, clean, crisp, and a nice caramelized sour apple note that really stood out not only to myself but some friends I was with. The more I sipped – the more I liked it. Espadin doesn’t always get the attention it deserves but this offering is worth every penny!
With the high cost per bottle (not saying mezcal costs aren’t warranted) and some hype from a few industry friends I had very high expectations for this expression. Jabali is notoriously difficult to work with so they get an extra half star from me for the effort. Flavors are all there just subtle (as Jabali in my experience tends to be). Sweetness, gentle smoke, lightly herbal but it was the lactaic note and a burnt caramel quality that really stood out to me. Unique and a great conversation starter for hardcore mezcal enthusiasts but perhaps a bit overkill considering the price point at $120. There are some mezcals out there that will blow your mind at this price point and much less.
No heat and not much of the flavors linger which is a letdown considering the ABV of about 47%. Nothing truly distinctive about this Pechuga – mellow flavors abound with some sweet citrus, spices, tropical, and sweet agave. For around $100 this just doesn’t deliver enough to warrant the investment. Nothing wrong with investing in a pour just not the bottle.
If you enjoy the profile of the cenizos from Durango this expression will not disappoint. I had this in Sayulita and it was great to enjoy this by the beach – sweet cooked agave, round/smooth mouthfeel, fresh, and a little briny. I haven’t seen this in the US all that often but if you’re a cenizo lover this is certainly worth a try as the bottle cost is not prohibitive.
Cheapest bottle of mezcal I’ve ever bought in the US – all the trappings of cheap mezcal but certainly has its place if you’re looking for a cheap alternative to make cocktails with. Light, thin, and smokey but I can imagine it would go well in a Paloma.
Lot 000217 – just got a sample from a Bozal rep and its the best expression in their lineup that I’ve tried. Although its an espadin this expression tastes complex and although it seems like a broken record the clay pot distillation process makes this a winner. The drawback being the cost ($90-$120/bottle). Sweet, earthy, herbal, and smooth. Worth a try if you come across it!
