Finishing the last of this bottle. Definitely has evolved in flavor and profile as I have drank it over the last few months. Much sweeter and rounded then I first tasted it when it was harsh and sharp on the palate and finish. Oxygen has done good things for this Arroqueño. Flavors of mint/herbs and lemongrass, a bit of taste like Good & Plenty candy (licorice). Hint of minerality and earth. Still a tad hot and peppery.

Sometimes, one agave stands out more in an ensemble, but not this one. The Tep adds a nice background on this ensemble, I don’t pick up clear karwinskii or tobala notes. Creamsicle on the nose, Poached pear, strong floral notes, nice spiciness, a hint of licorice, and herbal touches as well. Very good overall.

Another great offering from Lalo….the clay is much more present on this batch. A bit of smoke salt on the front, a spicy mid palate, a piney flavor, a nice lingering finish. Again, the balance is pretty incredible on this and his other mezcales.

So well balanced. I love the herbaceous elements from the Tobasiche, a bit of eucalyptus on the nose. A light mezcal with slight sweetness, and faint smoke. I usually prefer a heaver flavor profile and mouthfeel, but I really like this blend and how it works together.

So well balanced. I love the herbaceous elements from the Tobasiche, a bit of eucalyptus on the nose. A light mezcal with slight sweetness, and faint smoke. I usually prefer a heaver flavor profile and mouthfeel, but I really like this blend and how it works together.

Green apple on the front, back end has herbal notes, a bit of mint. I usually get more clay on Lalo’s distillations, but it is muted here on this release. Sips very clean and light.

Agree with Rakhal’s tasting notes, the bottle did change over time with more oxygen and those honey notes were definitely present. I got more honeycomb perhaps, the lingering taste in my mouth has a hit of clove.

Bottle 731, ABV 48% A bit of funk on the nose, tastes of pungent cheese, not quite a stilton, but blue. Reminiscent of the barnyard, maybe some overripe fruit like mango or papaya. Takes some time to develop an appreciation for its character. A light toasted almond on the backend. Worth revisiting over a few weeks.

Lote 1, ABV 46.7 Grassy on the nose, bit of candied fruit. Tastes of lemongrass upfront and a slight metallic aftertaste. Sharp and stinging. A vague taste in the background of the clay pot. A decent mezcal and would like to sample more from the Mezcalero.

What a fabulous Arroqueño, much sweeter than others I have had, smoother, and lots of beautiful chalk and earth notes. Changed a bit from when I first opened the bottle where there was more fruit and herbal notes. A bit of caramel and dark honey.

Very floral, sweet grass and light herbaceous notes. a bit of sprearmint on the back end. Quite nice and smooth.

Lacking batch # and date of production. Agree with Jonny and Tyler that the flavors are not as robust and complex as other Teps. It may be the slightly reduced ABV (45%) rather than the typical 48% and up for other Teps in my collection. Nice subtitles though and balanced, some fruit, herb/grass, and smoke notes, nothing overpowering. And I get a soapy aftertaste that makes it a bit astringent.

2018 distillation date, bottle 118/666, 50/50 Tobasiche-Espadin. Red licorice on the nose, maybe red vines? Hints of nuts, almonds and walnuts. Bits of pear, citrus, lingering finish of champagne grapes, and cardamom.

Lot A-09-M-19, May 2019. ABV: 51.4% Sad to hear of Aquilino’s passing, feel that his craft was matched by few mezcaleros/mezcaleras. Wanted to taste as many of his offerings as I could get my hands on. Very much hope his son can add to his legacy. Very green on the nose, floral notes as well. Warmth lingering long after sipping, that high ABV gets to me more that usual. Some sweet notes with light citrus and wet earth.

Great blend, love how these agaves are brought together in this blend. A bit of bark and chalk on the back end, Notes of lemongrass, mint, and earth. A touch as well of the bubblegum that seems to be prominent in several of the Los Nahuales and Mezcalero releases.

RMC-01, 2015, 242 liters, bottle 226/282, Mezcalero Lorenzo. Super sweet, caramel, sweet potato, hints of cinnamon, not as complex as their Barril, but very good nonetheless. Glad to have nursed this bottle for three years. Keeps on improving. Not sure it would last another three though.

Lot #RMB-04, 2016, bottle 75/165. I believe one of the last distillations from the father, Lorezno. As this bottle has gotten less and less liquid in it, the flavors have gotten more intense and complex (I generally find that to be the case with really great mezcal). Flavors keep changing as well through the tasting, green flavors like grass, bubble gum and cotton candy deep in the palate, hints of banana, floral notes on the nose. Will be so sad when this bottle is finished.

We have a bottle from Mezcaloteca in Oaxaca City purchased in March, 2017, an earlier bottling and distillation. Date May 2016. 250 liters produced. Lot #01-16. Cardamom on the nose, Great taste and lingering finish. Touches of herbal notes, clay, mango, and spice. So well balanced and approachable. Cannot single out what the Jabali brings to the ensemble, but fantastic mezcal.

ABV 52.4%, 100% Espadin, Mezcalera Karina Abad
Oh that bubblegum….wow. Green but not too earthy, a bit of hickory, the finish lingers a good long while, the technique yields an impressive result. Hopeful to see more of these types of distillations make their way to the US.

Lo t#13B, bottle 943, Mezcalero Jose Ines Garcia Morales, ABV 45%
Banana, sugarcane, hint of caramel, cuishe is surprisingly mellow in the background yet still present. I do like the blend.