An ensemble that is earthy, minerally, sweet, and light on the tongue. A nice sipper and a bargain. Lot 11A / Bottle 1053.

This is a nice Espadin. Crisp and flinty, with notes of minerals and wet earth. A worthy sipper. Not sure what the story is with the Lot # on my bottle. 17-1815 is typed, with TXE-08 handwritten over it.

This is a great Cenizo. Rich, sweet, and creamy on the palate. Wonderfully smooth and rich. A delightful sipper. Beautiful. Lot: 6. Bottle 173.

An interesting spirit. Starts off a bit hot, then softens and rounds. Raicilla-like. Heavy duty minerals with herbal notes. Wet stone, gravel, sage, and thyme on the palate. A healthy dose of funk on the finish. Lot: TX001 Bottle 374. $89.99 from Astor Wines and Spirits in NY.

This was my first experience with Raicilla. It is exceptionally complex and flavorful. At first sip there is a wave of lime that transitions to a whole host of fruit flavors that hang on through a never-ending finish. This is a quality spirit. Date: 03/18 Lot 24 Bottle 147/500.

This is a wonderful mezcal and a great value. I had the 40% ABV version. The nose is floral and fruity, with notes of pine resin. Rich and spicy on the palate. Tropical fruits with a hint of mint, and a lingering finish. A highly recommended cupreata. Batch # TP00316

I found a bottle of this mezcal for $34 in the duty-free shop at the airport in San Jose, Costa Rica. It was in a 700ml bottle. 37.5% alcohol. The nose is non-descript with light mineral earth and green pepper. Oily and viscous on the palate, with papaya and mango flavors in the background. A wisp of smoke creeps in on the finish. Overall, this mezcal comes up short in flavor, and the low ABV makes it taste diluted. While I wouldn’t call it a bad sipper, there are plenty of espadins with more character and punch. I would use it as a mixer. LOT: 18-19

A very clean, crisp, briny espadin; and a great value. Mango and papaya on the palate, and very smooth at 45% ABV. Good stuff. Lot # ESJ451803

Hot, smoky, and crisp, with white pepper and an overall zippy spiciness. Not really a complex sipper. The best of the mixer mezcals.

Smooth and complex, with plenty of up-front smoke. Notes of fresh oak and green bell pepper. I think the aging to make this a reposado covers up some flavor nuances. Rich on the palate with a lingering, mellow finish. A nice sipper. Batch: ACRE270415, Edition: 08, Harvest: 2014, Bottle: 209/2095.

Upon my first sip of this mezcal I thought it was very hot, and found it somewhat harsh. The initial punch does fade into nice flavors of savory herbs with an undertone of smoke. Mint hangs in the finish. I will have to re-visit this one when I have more tasting experience.

This is my favorite Mezcal to date. Wonderfully ripe and smooth. Tropical fruits and spice on the nose with decadent mango and grilled pineapple on the palate. Wet earth/clay on a lingering finish. I love this. Can’t wait to try the El Jolgorio Tobala and compare the two.

I really liked this. A wonderfully clean/pure and crisp mezcal with smoke and citrus notes that hang on the palate through a slightly sweet finish. An uncomplicated sipper that is a delight. A real bargain to boot.
Lot PAZ-024

My first experience with Sotol and not my last. Loaded with minerals and wet earth. Zip of white pepper spice in the long finish. I don’t get the funkiness that others pick up here. I like it, especially as a change-up from standard mezcals. Batch #216.

Not a bad sipper at all. Notes of citrus and cinnamon. Oily and rich on the tongue. Woody finish. Lacks punch and clarity at only 80 proof. Lot MSR-007 from 2015. I would probably give it another half star, but I prefer jovens over reposados and anejos.

While a little more proof muscle would help this mezcal, it is a great value. I’ve had several bottles and they have all been consistent. Great smoky nose with crisp citrus on the palate. I keep a bottle on hand, as it is a great introductory mezcal for those who have not tried one. Recommended as a sipper or a mixer.

I picked up a bottle in Total Wine as the price was attractive, unaware that this was a Kimo Sabe product. I have not tried Kimo Sabe, so I cannot say whether this is the same product with a different label. Either way there is not much going on with this Mezcal. It has a thin, harsh mouthfeel, no fruit or identifiable mineral elements on the palate or the finish, and tastes watered down at 80 proof. There is a hint of smoke, but no substance. A cheap cocktail mixer at best.

Heavy duty citrus in this one – lemon peel/zest with saline and a smoky background. Not a bad sipper.

A friend gave me a bottle some time back. Knowing it was made by Jose Cuervo I expected it to be a flavorless industrial bottling. Not quite. It is simple and straightforward, with the usual smoke and citrus overtones. I would not call it a sipper. It does the job in cocktails.