The nose is great. It smells like a palenque with the fermenting agave, musty earthenware, fresh hay, and even a working horse. Unfortunately, it drops off from there. The body is enjoyable enough with some notes of honey, lemon zest, and roasted cactus. Sounds great, but somehow falls flat. The finish is also lackluster. It’s a little bitter and doesn’t linger, which may be a blessing given it’s the least enjoyable part of this juice. Overall, it’s okay, but I’ve had better madrecuishe mezcals

Lot L1/20. This is an interesting one. At first sniff I get stone fruit—peaches, apricots, maybe even Italian plums—with some almost soapy qualities. But, when it hits the palate, it’s butterscotch and peppercorns. Did I mention it’s interesting? The finish is smooth and lingering, drawing on the hard candy notes. There is nothing offensive about this Mezcal, but the flavors might not necessarily play as well together as I’d like.

The nose is green papaya and ripe mango. It’s bright and fruity. The pallet is more tropical fruit pineapple and maybe coconut. The finish is a little bitter and a little sour like the mango wasn’t quite ripe after all. To me, the tropical fruit flavors are more reminiscent of a Cuishe than a smooth and vanilla Arroqueños I’ve had in the past

The nose is surprisingly floral and delicate for a tepeztate, but there are hints of leather saddlebags and a freshly cleaned barn. It is bright and citrusy on the palate with a slightly medicinal finish similar to that of an Islay Scotch. The finish is a little rough, but not offensive.

Simply put, this Mezcal is next level. The more I drank it, the more I shared it, the more I enjoyed it. The nose is a stop into a morning bakery. There is vanilla, caramel, and sticky buns pulled from the over. The expected heat from the higher proof just isn’t there. The Mezcal somehow melts in your mouth, smooth and with hints of orange rind and brown sugar. The finish lingers pleasantly for a few seconds before before fading and leaving you wanting more. Time and time again, in tastings with friends or on my own, this was the one I kept going back to.

A subtle fruity aroma of green apples and champagne grapes evolves into a bold and satisfying flavor of lemon drop candies and caramel apples. It is not overly sweet, however, as it lingers on the pallet for long after first taste. One of Vago’s finer offerings.

It’s late afternoon, the sun lingers over the garden as you sit on a veranda smelling the jasmine and wet leaves on the breeze. That’s the nose. In the same garden, on the same veranda, there is a bowl of fresh fruit, mostly apples and star fruit that are succulent and ripe. You eat one, then another, then another. That is the pallet. It is a soft and bright Mezcal and worth your time.

JAI-BAR-001. The nose is surprisingly warm and inviting; it smells of fresh, sweet sticky buns and has no indication of being 58.9% ABV. When it hits the tongue, again, the expected heat is not there. It’s all candied brown sugar, ginger, and hints of cinnamon. It’s easily the most remarkable high proof spirit I’ve ever tasted.

Lot A25. This Mezcal is something else. It has a big, bright citrus nose of orange and lime peels. At first taste, it is all orange sorbet with some floral orange blossom and unsweetened yogurt, then it finishes with a lingering creamy meringue feel. This Mezcal is very unique, but probably not a daily sipper.

Light nose of honey and wet hay. Green pepper notes hit softly at first, but there is a honeydew finish. It’s not very full for a Tepeztate, but it’s easy drinkin’ and there is absolutely nothing offensive about it.