batch pmpdel 12-22, 48.5% abv.
(This is the newer Tequiliana Weber, not the Espadin)

Review #36: very savory with sautéed mushrooms, cinnamon sugar, barnyard hay, wet animal fur, roasted nuts, cacao powder. After opening up more fruits come out like peach, apple, cooked pear, banana.

This is another 5S that has beautiful layers. Nice earthy savory notes as a base, but as you drink more you get the fruits. I was looking darker flavors here from the mole but it’s actually not as much spice or chocolate as i expected. Still, this is excellent

batch capsn 12-20, 52.5% abv

Review #35: Mossy, clay, mild grassiness, wet earth, wet sweet smoke, wet wood, wet hay, fresh rain, sea spray, overall a musty wet-ness to everything, iodine and rubber reminding me of a peated scotch, after opening up and tasting for a while i get some burnt caramel, peach, and melon.

This is very earthy and it does it so well. I would have never expected myself to enjoy the soil so much, haha. After enjoying and adjusting to the earthiness you start to pick up more delicate fruit flavors underneath it all. Big and bold but it has some secrets to uncover

lote 28, 06/21 production date, 45.1% abv

Review #34: cantaloupe, sour raspberry, kiwi, acidic lemon, white pepper, cinnamon, bits of charred wood and crisp minerality on the finish.

This has all the right flavors but they do not make a great impact. This is overall pretty light in flavor while still being hot. This could easily gain another full star if it wasn’t so thin. Still enjoyable but just a tad boring.

lote 5018-M, March 2020 production date, glass rested 31 months, 48.4% abv

Review #33: Grassy, lime, black pepper, fresh jalapeño, bell pepper, light fresh cream shows up for a moment, then some smoke, oregano, earthy, light minerality and a little dark chocolate on the end of the palate.

There’s a lot to this that I enjoy, but I just felt it wasn’t entirely cohesive. A bit rough around the edges but bold enough to make up for it. Not usually my cup of tea flavor wise, but I do appreciate this

Lote d5008-TO, June 2022 production date, glass rested 6 months, 48.4% abv

Review #32: Fresh caramel, light and perfumey florals, sort of ‘airy’ like fresh rain on the nose, milk/white chocolate, fresh strawberry and watermelon, candy kiwi, light minerals and some salinity on the finish.

This is among my favorite tobala so far. It has an alluring freshness to it with the florals and the fruits mixed together.

lote d5002, october 2018 production date, glass rested 35 months, 50.7% abv

Review #31: Bell pepper, some acidity, lime, watermelon jolly ranchers, grassy, grape powder sugar like from fun dip, rosemary, bubblegum, chipotle, orange, fresh mango.

This is super fun. There’s an exciting back and forth between vegetals and fruits that keeps you on your toes. Masterful blend on this, and I will keep on the lookout for more Tepeztate blends because they’ve been too good to me so far.

lote E2019211, 45% abv

Review #30: sweet florals like elderflower, and lavender on the nose and front of the palate, this has moderate smoke, light minerals, black pepper, a bit of tart fruit like strawberry.

This is all quite delicate and while the flavors are nice, it’s just a bit weak overall. I strongly preferred their sotol over this.

lote hbg-mad21 ix-22, 47% abv

Review # 29: Grassy and dusty everywhere here. Some lime, minerals, soil, light smoke, vegetal jalapeno, a little spicy, dry and smoked herbs on the finish.

I was a bit dissapointed with this. It was very dusty and dry and while there was more to offer from this mezcal, it was just too strong on those notes. Maybe i got a less than stellar batch here

lote cen-c 02/23/22, 54% abv

Review #28: very acidic and tart overall, cherry, grape, watermelon, and strawberry jolly ranchers(yup, all of them), bubblegum, a touch cream somehow in the middle of the palate but lots of minerality after the creamiess with little wet soil on the finish.

This is big and bright. Those fruits are like candy and it makes your mouth water a little from them. A bit of the heat is definitely holding it back, but it’s bursting with flavors

Batch 202110, 50.7% abv

Review #27: amazing bundle of fruits like creamy mango, guava, and strawberry with fresh vanilla. There’s some light vegetal notes with bell pepper, some pine, and a damp earthiness supporting it.

The mango really stands out here for me and I love it, I’m definitely a big fan of mango. The fresh fruits contrasted with darker earth notes work together really well. Rayo seco hasn’t missed on any of their bottles

Lot 2, 43% abv

Review #26: caramel, pine, metallic, sweet lemons, unique wood taste, a savory funkiness that I’m sure has something to do with snake venom.

This is a very odd one. There is an interesting savory funk to it that really makes this stand out, but i feel like the oak is a bit strong and and overpowers the subtleties

Lot ES.03.22.CE, 49% abv

Review #25: strong flavors and aromas of strawberry right from the start, then some vanilla, bright watermelon, pine, ash (but not smoke-y, more of an earthy ash) fresh wet soil, and wet stone.

This has excellent fruitiness balanced by earthiness. This may be closer to a 7-7.5/10, but I’m pushing it to an 8 for now. It lacks intensity and complexity, but the style of flavors worked well for me. Definitely easy sipping

Lot E2021012, 45% abv

Review #24: i agree with tyler on his “juicy” note, juicy and rich citrus fruits, sweet and slightly sour lemon, orange, and lime. Sweet earthiness, light florals, sweet roasted honey nuts, some smoke and an herbal backbone.

I really liked this one and it’s definitely one of the better sotols i have had. Decent complexity here and has that oomph for me.

Lote 15, 48.51% abv

Review #23: very pungent, tangy pineapple, pine, earthy, and jalapenos are dominant with moderate smoke, lemon, mineral and sweet and spicy herbs make their way after to the end.

This has a strong vegetal and earthy base to it with a bit of citrus and herbs mixed in. Very enjoyable

Lote 62, 48.51% abv

Review #22: airy and flowery especially on the nose. Taste has some bell pepper and soft jalapeno, more lime and peach cobbler, then on the finish is light milk chocolate, and reminiscent of brown butter cookies with a pinch of salt on them that my partner makes.

Really loving the evolution this takes from the nose to the palate, and i love when a mezcal has that pretty nose that reminds you of fresh flowery air.

Lote 81, 48.51% abv

Review #21: vanilla, honey, caramel, sweet cream, light pear, white chocolate, powdered sugar, and some light florals on the finish. This is somewhat basic and delicate but it does taste very nice. Above average overall but just doesn’t have a wide profile of flavors

Bottle number 078, 46% abv

Review #20: Bubble gum and strawberry right out of the glass. Tropical fruits, melon, peach, coconut, vanilla and honey on the mid palate. Light cinnamon and sweet herbs nearing the end. This is such a rich and well made “tequila”. Everything jumps out at you and is so cohesive. I hope to try more from them

Lot 202107, bottle 72/480, 52% abv

Review #19: Tons of fresh peach, apricot, fresh sweet thai basil, rosemary, toasted herbs, light milk chocolate, a little bell pepper, and earthiness. I really love the fruits on this one mixed in with the darker earthy notes. Great showcase of angustifolia here

Lot DS001-A2, October 2022 production date, glass rested 6 months, 52.7% abv

Review #18: minerals, lime, and vanilla show up first, then a bit of bell pepper, coconut, and ashy smoke on the finish. I found it pretty thin overall considering the proof. The flavors are a bit lacking and light. It’s decent but nothing wowed me.

Lot 21, 03/22 production date, 61.9% abv

Review #17: Nose has lemongrass and quite herbal. Palate just smacks you in the face. Wow. So many flavors at once. This is 61.9% and isn’t even that hot. Very funky. Light lactic creamy notes, but as someone else ive read says, more jamaican like funk and i agree, it works so well with the all the fruit here. Strawberry, pineapple, red wine, melons, grape candy, lemon. A touch of milk chocolate. A variety of sweet herbs, like rosemary. A bit flowery as well. Light minerality and some sort of chemical note i get similar to the occidental. There’s no smoke on this. Very complex and there’s a lot there that is still difficult to pick out. Worth trying at least once