49.1% abv (did not catch the batch info)
Got a healthy two ounce pour at Cactus at Alki Beach in Seattle. Bubblegum, pine, incense smoke, and cypress on the nose. Flavors hit on the bubblegum, pine tar, underripe peach and nectarines, lychee, animal crackers, olive brine, and bitter citrus pith. Rock solid. Looking over the other reviews, I hit upon some similar notes, but I must concur with RazorbackMike: this went really well with a warm spring afternoon in the PNW.
Lot: Ancestral 03-MP, 50.2% abv, Date 02/22/2020 Bottle: 14/720
Picked up this bottle at Mission Liquor. My batch is different from other reviewers, though it was the review on YouTube by Tequila Hombre that intrigued me enough to grab a bottle finally.
Nose: raw sugar cane, beet juice, light ashy aroma
Palate: sweet carrots, root veggies, sweet herbal tea, gochujang, Walla Walla Onion, galangal, and faint smoke. With more air, the pour evolves into some of the tropical fruit notes that other reviewers mention from their batches.
This one is just slightly better than the masparillo from Lamata, but both are very high quality offerings. This had some nice lingering heat and flavor and a bit more complexity. Great to be able to taste both side-by-side.
Lot MAS-C-05 2019 49% abv
Old Town still had a bottle of this release hiding on their shelves. Glad to pick one under the old Amormata label (nothing wrong with the new Lamata though)
Nose: sarsaparilla, pine, linoleum, burnt sugar
Palate: sharp pine, nettles, root beer, oatmeal, marshmallow, balanced and approachable heat, quality sipper, mellows out with some air, great overall batch and a strong reminder to look beyond Oaxaca for other fantastic batches. Looking over the other reviews and revisiting a small copita after composing my notes, I do get a bit of that asparagus note that Rakhal mentions and a hint of the pickle juice that Jonny touched on. Closer to 4.25 stars.
Lot: RAMB2023 Bottle: #4, Distillation Date: October 2022 ABV: 53.7%
First tried Rosario’s mezcal as part of a Maguey Melate release and really enjoyed it. I purchased this bottle at Old Town Tequila. This release reminds of how much I enjoy a well-made, clay-pot distilled mezcal. The flavor of that clay distillation in addition to the aroma come through strongly in this batch. Given that this batch is capón, there are a range of flavors that are more funky, earthy, slight meaty, and deeply sweet than a typical espadin. The high abv is definitely present and noticeable, which could also be impacting those flavors. Really a great expression and I highly recommend tracking down a bottle or a copita. Check out The Love of Mezcal’s review as well, they hit on many of the same tasting notes that I had: https://www.instagram.com/reel/C5BS9g2LPN-/?igsh=MWQ1ZGUxMzBkMA==
50% abv, Lot 01-ESP
First became aware of Geü Beez when Paul Theroux wrote about visiting their palenque in his book “On the Plain of Snakes.” Finally has gotten released in the U.S. I picked up this bottle at Old Town Tequila in San Diego. I really appreciate these high proof espadins.
Nose: Vinyl, plastic wrap, and recently extinguished campfire
Palate: Anise, clove, bottom-end sweetness, roasted greens, heat is pretty strong and lingers all around the palate. There is a slight bitterness and flavor bordering on burnt spices. A different profile from many espadins that I have tried, and I definitely enjoyed this one.
In Mezcalistas review of this release, they mention dried apricot, which I don’t get, but the first taste of the bottle was much sweeter. If you are interested, Mezcalistas also linked to this YouTube video of production for the brand: https://youtu.be/qcDfpDinVOs?si=sdF7n15gB9fP5lgc
48% abv, Batch 0722ER
Picked up a bottle at Ramirez Liquor in LA. And what a great mezcal for a great price. $50! This espadin is both a high quality sipper and makes great cocktails. As mezcal’s popularity has risen, too many 40% abv mezcals have entered the market that are of inferior quality, and even some that range up to 42-43% are pretty mediocre. I have been getting a lot of bitterness in these espadins as well, which isn’t terrible, but then they have too much smoke and a watery mouthfeel. This batch from the Victor and Emanuel Ramos is such a delight.
Nose: Sweet bakery, pan dulce, limestone, musty cave
Palate: citrus, lime peel, saltwater taffy, coriander, perfect black pepper heat, fruit syrup, tart finish. Very well balanced, and well made. I gave an extra half star for the value, but it may be a 4 and a half star on its own. If you have been looking for a solid espadin for your bar or collection, grab one of these bottles while they are still around.
45.5% abv Batch: March 2022, 230 liters (Mexicano Capón)
Sampled a one ounce pour at Damian in DTLA, really solid Mexicano, herbal and earthy flavors with subtle complexity and smoke on the backend (paired well with the huarache dish on the menu that had black beans and grilled artichoke), tough to get deep on the tasting notes with a single pour, but I would definitely recommend. Another solid release by Berta.
48% abv, Lot: PAU-TEP-200-1-23, 200 liter batch
Sampled a one ounce pour at Damian in DTLA with an event hosted by Rocio Flores (Mezcalting on the IG) celebrating maestra mezcaleras. So great to get to taste a high quality Tep after a few disappointing ones of late. This had some stewed banana and buttery qualities (think bananas foster). Very surprising and different from the typical Tep flavors. I will have to revisit and track down a bottle.
Lot: 00319 ABV: 46.2%
Tried a copita at Sayulita Tap Room in Indio in February 2023.
Nose: Clean, minerals, and floral notes.
Palate: Strong minearlity, floral, mild tropical fruit, slight bitterness and subdued background heat. Great mouthfeel, a little buttery.
Overall a solid tobalá
April 2019, Lot: 29, 46.5% abv
Nose: BBQ, purple nerds, juniper, cardboard
Palate: smoke, vegetal flavors, mild heat, light sweetness, paper mache, coffee creamer.
Overall, a bit too smoke forward and the flavors are a bit muted. Slightly disappointed with this release compared to other Mezcalero releases. And definitely many better Tepeztates that I have sampled.
48.33% abv, Batch: CALI-012, Bottle 101/120, 2021
Three fantastic magueys, really exciting ensemble.
Nose: Apricot, hay, wax, and spice (clove)
On the palate, the Jabalí and the Tobalá come through strongly, great minerality as the backbone, generous heat, tart fall fruit, herbaceous flavors, and a bit of umami. Green/vegetal tastes from the Tepeztate are more present after getting more air. Really enjoyed this ensemble of these three magueys, I will look for others.
Did not catch the abv and batch information on the bottle. Tried a sample at La Mezcaleria in Zurich during a sampling of a few of their bottles and offerings during a tasting. Was a really well made mezcal and a solid expression. The flavors and aromas were very much reminiscent of other cupreatas that I have had from Guerrero. Look forward to revisiting at some time in the near future.
Did not catch the batch # or production info (bad, blurry photo that I took). I tried a pour of this fantastic mezcal at La Catedral in Zurich this past November 2023. While my tasting notes are largely from memory, it was incredibly unique. Sweet and pungent with flavors of exotic tropical fruits. Did not taste like other offerings that I have had from Guerrero. Excited to see that this brand (now called Tiawi Tiawi) is getting distributed in the U.S. The Swiss have been enjoying this brand for quite a while and we are lucky to now be getting this in the states.
47.3% Bottle 162, Batch FAU-CUP-001
Nose: Olive skins, green onion, sweet bread, powdered sugar
Palate: Bitter melon, rhubarb, sweet tarts, dark chocolate, clove, candied ginger, and tree bark. Light salinity and and slight astringency, background of that green onion, and a great balance of sweet and tart.
So enjoyable and fits into the wide spectrum of flavors that I have come to enjoy in cupreatas from Guerrero. Excited to see that Sanzekan (a brand/cooperative that Faustino produces for primarily) is now getting U.S. distribution.
52% abv, Mach 2018 Lot: #11 34 months rested in glass, bottle 50/60
I picked up a bottle from Erick when I was in Mexico City in March, 2022. This expression is quite superb and delicious. This tastes quite a bit different than the Cupreata from Guerrero that is also in the Pal’Alma lineup however the quality is on par with those expressions. Love what the pulque brings to the flavor profile and a bit of the mouthfeel.
Nose: sweet cream, strawberries, mild cheese, clementines, and skittles
Palate: Pink bubblegum, background of the pulque used to start fermentation, hint of funk, mild heat for 52% abv, strawberries and cream on the backend, and red vines.
Batch: CALI-006. 2019. Bottle: 57/68. 46.28%
First time I tried Rufina at an agave event at Happiest Ours in Corona, CA, the verde really stood out and was quickly sold out. Glad I was able to track down a bottle at Happiest Ours at a tasting a few months later.
Sweet karwinskii wonderfulness, fresh dandelion, and caramel on the nose.
Deep minerality, which is common with the entire Rufina line-up. Bright green flavors of leafy veggies, bee’s wax, light salinity, roasted sweet potato, and finishes with green plum and green mango. Very enjoyable and will seek out another bottle when this one is finished.
50.2% abv. Bottle: 352
Nose: Hay and wet cardboard
palate: mild sweetness, minerality, toasted anise, solid heat, sweetbread, indistinct fruit note, cooked oatmeal with brown sugar. 3.75/5 stars
Lot: PL-III-22 45% abv
Smells karwinskii
– grass swamp grass
– fruit sweetness, strawberry and melon
– hard candyDry character, strawberry candy (the one in the strawberry wrapper) wet redwood, earthy and grassy backend, mellow heat, lingering finish and sweet smoke.
My batch is a bit different in abv than Jam. But we picked up on some of the same grassy notes. I first was exposed to this brand-maguey at Madre at a blind tasting hosted by Ivan Vasquez and it really stood out. Very unique flavors and profile. I have had one other Penca Larga and it was a standout as well.
4.25 stars out of five
Lot# RF-2020, abv 46%
Light karwinskii aromas, mild smoke, dried bubblegum or tree sap, wet cardboard
Elmer’s glue, ash, roasted corn, roasted peanuts, wood chips, mushroom tea, and mild heat. Flavors are mellow. Sweetness opens up some more after getting some air.
50% abv, 2.5 ounce sample
Nose: Frost and Fierce Gatorade, pine, bubblegum
Palate: does not taste like a 50% mezcal, really interesting flavors, dry mouthfeel, tart banana, anise, cotton candy, coffee grounds, dates, and lime peel.
Backbone is the alto with lots of notes coming through from the cupreata and mexicano. Really enjoyable and the finish was better for me than the other two reviews from Zack and bpCLT
