Phenomenal Coyote!! Dark aromas of BBQ, prunes, and rich chocolate. The palate has light clay and notes of a root beer float, 7Up, chocolate, dates, raisins, and molasses. This is a really solid pour.

Really nice! Aromas of sea salt, grade A (golden and delicate) maple syrup, raw sugar cane, and candy dots. The palate is soft with notes of old books, worn in leather, pear fruit, and green grapes. I’m enjoying this a lot.

DARMBE-02. Sweet baby Jesus. So soft and velvety, yet with that classic marmorata spice and prickle. The nose is herbal, spicy, and creamy. It has notes of jalapeno, lavender, sage, and sweet cream. The palate has sweet bell peppers and jalapeno cream. This tastes like a sauce in which I’d want to smother a chicken enchilada.

Lot 0414TG. I’m in love. Big aromas of roasted cacao, dry hay, sage, sea salt, jalapeno, and dark cherries. The palate is so rich and elegant, silky yet viscous. Similar notes on the palate as were on the nose: chocolate, tanned leather, salt, grilled jalapeno, and the addition of some spearmint and peppermint. Part of the beauty of this mezcal is it’s subtly. The surface layer, first-impression, is fantastic, but the more I sip and smell this, the deeper and more nuanced it gets. This is fantastic!

It’s always great to taste something from a new (to me) producer in Minas. This one has all the “classic” Minas characteristics and doesn’t disappoint on any of those. It’s a bit sour on the nose, with some hints of unripe fruits and fresh flowers. The palate is dripping wet and a bit clay-heavy for me. I typically love clay pot distillations, but sometimes the clay overpowers the agave flavors, and I feel there’s a bit of that happening here. That said, this still has a lot of subtle complexities and it’s very soft and enjoyable.

Lot EXT0001 2020. Aromas of fermenting sour apples, figs, dried dates, and overripe banana. The palate has similar sour and overripe fruit flavors. The body is light and easy without any burn or heat.

Lot IV/19. Aromas of spring flowers, sea salt, and a bit of tropical fruit. The palate is soft with a bit of slate, spearmint, and some smoke. Berta’s batches are very hit or miss for me, but this one is a hit.

Lot v/2020. Aromas of new tennis balls, new Nike running sneakers, flan, honey, papaya, cantaloupe, salt water taffy. The palate is rich with milk chocolate, cinnamon, fresh vanilla beans, and freshly cut jalapeno peppers. Medium viscosity and a bit of heat on the back of the palate. This is phenomenal, and I could sip it all day.

Citric and herbal aromas. Notes of lemon, lime, oregano, and bay leaves on the nose. The palate is bright with honey, cinnamon, brown sugar, and sweet potato french fries. It’s a bit hot on the back of the palate with a light numbing element.

Aromas of rich dark fruits, cherries, overripe mango, papaya, and cantaloupe. The palate is a bit starchy. I get some root vegetable textures mixing with sweet notes related to baked goods, like honey, sweet oats, and coffee cake. This is still really good, but it’s my least favorite of the first 4 releases that made it into the US.

Aromas of lime, orange peel, chocolate strawberries, lemon, and leather. The palate his cinnamon and Red Hot candies on the front of the palate in a very pronounced way. That spicier start leads into honey, peaches, vanilla, and aloe. This is nice.

Lot 002-TOB. Clean nose, with aromas of rosemary, sage, grilled potatoes, apricot, and dried tobacco. The palate has notes of green apple, pineapple, mango, red Jolly Ranchers, leather, and a dash of oregano. This is really nice and easily enjoyable.

Green pepper, basil, mint, and rose water aromas are infectious. I can’t stop sniffing this as it smells incredible. The palate is coating and buttery with notes of cucumber mint water, walnuts, pine, and a touch of dark chocolate. Warm and savory finish.

Distilled in Jan 2019. Fresh fruit aromas of papaya and under-ripe oranges. More aromas of sweet cream and jalapeno. The palate is syrupy and rich with notes of tomatillo, cedar, starfruit, and a bit of dry rosemary cheddar. This is complex and bold. It opens up quite a bit the longer it sits.

Distilled in April 2019. Super sweet and candied nose. Aromas of bubblegum, cherry Airheads, Jolly Ranchers, and Nerds. This smells like the candy I’d be eating at a movie theatre at age 13. The palate is quite a bit different. Notes of sweet barbeque sauce, gravy, chipotle, and champagne. This is phenomenal.

Lot SBJ003. Smells like an old dusty attic. Not much on the palate. A bit of smoke maybe. Thin. Nothing really offensive here, but also nothing interesting or exciting.

REI-TEP-001. Sweet green aromas on the nose: green peppers, fresh cracked black pepper, white onions, papaya, and pineapple. The first sip made me actually say “wow” out loud, so big and full and robust. The palate is rich with minerals, bright bell peppers, sea salt, lavender, and rose pedals. This is really nice. Reina makes one of my favorite Tepextate mezcals and this batch is fantastic.

Series 5. The Gregg Time & Tequila review killed it with the tennis ball aroma. I also get aromas of fresh aloe, chalky minerals, cloves, and ground moringa. The palate is packed with minerals, fresh coconut shavings, lemon rind, and new sneakers. This is really fantastic. A friend gave me a dram sample of this and I wish I had a whole bottle to myself.

Aromas of orange juice, pineapple, raisins, and slight apple cider vinegar. The palate has notes of sweet tarts, pixie sticks, yogurt covered raisins, and orange creamcicles. This is really a fantastic spirit. The field blends from Romulo do not disappoint and this one is special.

Aromas of aftershave, minty mouthwash, figs, and red apples. The palate is sweet with plums, apricots, grapefruit, and Jolly Ranchers. There’s a strong candied element to this that is super sugary and sweet. I’m enjoying this one.