Lote M-20
Woody, fruity aromatic smell.
Candy fruitiness with lots of complexities. I need more than this 2 oz sampler! Rotten fruit on back end (similar to a raicilla). 4.25

Lote: PE13
Nose is very tequila like with roasted sweet agave and citrus, orange peel. Taste very similar as well..light smoke and balanced heat. More agave, fruit, in taste. Not overly complex at all but hard to find anything wrong. Plus, this is a very economical bottle with pricing, so pleasantly surprised.
Review #208

Nose is similar to the Mexicano with some of that alto fruit funkiness. Taste has more alto to me than anything ad well, but this is definitely my favorite of the brand! Bold sweet citrius taste (limes, lemons), dark cocoa, and yet a slight green earthiness too. Candy sweet tarts. For 50% this really is easy sipping.
Review #207

Subtle but great smell – green and tropical fruits like mango. Grape seeds. Carries through to the taste. Some darker undertones as others have mentioned – coffee (especially in the aftertaste), cocoa nibs, leather. Rahkal got it with the 7up note, haha. Also, some candy like sweet tarts. Slightly tangy and briny finish.
Review# 206

Cottony, cream, “alto” funk taste. Carries through w/ some heat and jerky notes. Little funky. Not as much sweetness as I’d anticipated (or want). Get that new tennis ball smell that Rakhal mentioned. Comparing side-by-side w/ the Chino and I prefer this one (3.75).

Sweet sugary smell. Strong alcohol in initial taste (with a chlorine like harshness) followed by some sweetnees. Drier taste / ashy finish that I don’t normally like w/ my mezcals (like a Cenizo). Some leather, pepper, earthy and a little funky. I can see why some people really like this, but these tastes aren’t really my favorite. 3.25
Review #204

No Lote, March 2022
Purchased 250ml bottle in Oaxaca.
Butternut squash, sweet, vegetal. Warm fall flavors and fruit. Thanksgiving spices. Doesn’t taste like a Tep at all, but not that bad either so can’t dock it. 46% ABV.

Lote ANG-02
Might be the most surprising mezcal compared to expectations that I’ve ever had. Obviously anticipating the standard Madre, which is more of a mixer than a sipper, but this is definitely a heavy-hitting, clay distilled, complex ensamble. The tobasiche and espadin are great together – classic clay smell, with some sweet pumpkin notes. Full mouth feel that is all around softer from the tobasiche. Some roasted peanut notes. Only complaint may be heat is way hotter than the listed 47%, but overall didn’t mind. 4.25 Stars really.
Review #202

Still has a slight tep smell but along with a chemical harshness. Taste not at ALL like a Tep though. Harsh. And really not a good mezcal, much less a great Oaxacan tepeztate.

Lote: 01020
This was at my local Costco for $45 so couldn’t pass it up. Light on the nose, but still with the classic tep notes of earthy grass, green pepper. Taste is subtle but sweet with some minerality and pepper spice. Nothing overly complex at all but an easy sipper (plus a great value)!
Review #200

Slight sweet and fruity smell…funkiness with a bit gamey, rawhide feel to it. However, the taste is a lot different and on the taste though…roasted agave notes that reminds me slightly like a tequila. Slight chocolate note at the end. But along with ‘harsh’ smokiness. Not as complex as I like, and perhaps (dare I say) better as a mixer in a cocktail.

Lote 9
Nose is bright with notes of green apply jolly rancher and some citrus. Taste is sharp but full of flavors: orange creamcicle , melon, fruity. The ‘funkiness’/cheesiness from the raicilla is very light. Overall this tastes very balanced and sweet – almost doesn’t seem like it’s 60%+ ABV. Which makes this dangerously good!
Review: 198

Delicate floral notes. Berries. Dry, woodiness. Soft aromas in general.
Taste is a bit sharp with some heat. Bit dull with the complexities, but with an overarching creamy lactic note that is pleasant. Best part is a longer sweet finish that lingers in the mouth. Good but nothing mind blowing.

Super juicy nose! Reminds me of a raicilla for sure. Lots of overripe fruit. Taste has tons of fruit (strawberry fruit rollups, some kiwi, pineapples). Kinda tart and dry also like in a white wine, but still really sweet because of the fruit funk. Super interesting and different but is missing “something” to really love it (or it’s else too much of this juicy fruitiness funkiness for me). 3.25 stars.

Lote: JAEN1122
Comparing this with the pure Lumbre expression, which is fun as you can really tell the espadin influence.
Similar notes to the Lumbre, but everything is just more subdued. There’s an added buttery sweetness that has to be from the espadin. Leathery notes with tropical fruit. In someways not as layered or complex, but I think I like it slightly better (a full mouth, warmth feel to it). 4.25 stars.
Review #195

Lote: JALU112
Nose has a strong leathery, sandalwood prominence to it. Behind that there are some tropical fruit essence (rotten bananas perhaps). Taste carries through with very similar notes. Some sweet tart candy sweetness (which I get regularly with this producer it seems), grilled pineapple. Very layered and complex…like it a lot. 3.75

Review #194

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

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

Series 6
Classic green tep notes on nose. Sugar water, some earthiness. A subdued tep and a bit light. Missing that sharpness in green and pepper I associate with a good tepeztate. Normally my favorite agave, but this one seems a bit pedestrian.
Review #191

Lote: MAD/11-23, 48%
I love both Hermogenes as well as Miahuatlan mezcal so I’m obviously bias to this one. But still…what a great, sweet, nutty nose I’ve come to associate with madrecuishes.
Sweet tart candy on the taste, lime, peanuts, some minerality, with slight dusty, earthness as well. Full body and strong with integrated smoke.
Review #190