Lot DJEN/0116 from 2016. This was a somewhat blind purchase at the liquor store. I’d never seen this brand before, but it was reasonably priced, so I gave it a shot. The bottles are not fully labeled with mezcalero and location information, so I didn’t really know what I was purchasing. Overall, considering the cost, I think this is a great buy. The nose is a little funky with hints of fresh lime peel. The mouthfeel is medium light. The tasting notes include cooked orange, damp earth, anise, and cashew fruit. The finish lingers on the tongue, but is pleasant.

Lot 1-1183/3300 from 2014 by Laajsh Doob in San Juan del Rio. Very clean on the noes with aromatic notes of chestnuts and caramel. The taste is floral and fruity with heavy notes of orange and pineapple. This is very feminine and perfumed, vibrant and bright with a balanced mouthfeel.

This is a good Espadin. Meteoro is the same NOM as Marca Negra mezcal, so it’s definitely in good company. It’s interesting that this is marketed so heavily as a mixer as it’s 45% ABV. I’ve never had it in a cocktail, and I’m sure it would be fine for that purpose, but it also makes for a good sipper. Very soft and balanced. Lot: PCF03-1401.

Like other Don Beto mezcals, this is very clean on the nose. The flavor is incredibly dynamic and well-defined. Tasting notes include fresh green pepper, caramel, vanilla, and papaya. Though this ensemble has a lot of different agave blended into it, the flavors all work well together and create a fantastic experience.

Lot 18-D. Aromas of vanilla, leather, and bit of pepper. Complex flavor that is very rich with notes of fresh cherry, cream, and blood orange. This is a very good Mexicano.

Lots of clay on the nose. The clay really overpowers this one. It’s very colloidal in mouthfeel, like running your hand over wet clay. It’s good on it’s own, but considering this is a Mezcalero and Arroqueno, I would expect a bit more. Don’t get me wrong, this is a good mezcal. I just have high expectation out of what this brand releases.

Wow! You really can’t get enough of this mezcal. Even after a night of tasting other amazing mezcals, this one tastes incredible. Very sweet and sugary on the nose. Aromas of fresh sugar cane, pine, and vibrant fresh green pepper. Smells like bubble gum! Everything about this mezcal is very clean. The flavor is unbelievably complex. It’s so complex that it’s hard to pin individual notes. There’s some vanilla, leather, roasted agave, rose hip, almonds, and ash. This mezcal jumps around the mouth and hits every receptor. Absolutely incredible!

Lot DS008-M from March 2018. Love this! A new favorite Mexicano in my book. Notes of chocolate, leather, rawhides, mesquite, and camphor. Strong, long finish. I’m really digging this batch. 4.5 stars

Lot DS001-M from May 2013. Very fruity on the nose with almost no pepper. I normally expect some pepper with agave Mexicano, and this has almost none on the nose. The flavor, however, has strong notes of green pepper and caramel. This mezcal is very full in the mouth and a bit oily. I’m a huge fan of Mexicano and this one is good, but not great. This is a solid Mexicano, but it lacks the wow! factor that I’ve tasted in other Mexicano mezcals. It’s a 3.5 stars.

Lot DS005-J from September 2015. This mezcal is hyper-dynamic and one of the most complex spirits I’ve ever tried. There is a lot on the nose, with notes of freshly ground black pepper, sliced green pepper, papaya, lime, and sweet potato. The taste has a slight bite up front that gives way to more notes of fresh pepper, plantains, pineapple, lilac blossoms, and muddled mint leaves. The mouthfeel is very clean and less oily than some other Rey Campero mezcals I’ve tried. This hits every receptor in the mouth and yet remains incredibly balanced.

Edition 04 from 2015. This Mezcal has a lot of citrus on the nose. Aromas of lemon zest and lime. It’s thick on the tongue with a nice balance of vegetal and tropical citrus notes. The palate has lime, leather, and Mexican vanilla. I’m a big fan of Arroqueno and this one is VERY enjoyable. Very complex and rich.

Lot SJR109/15. Very ashy with notes of vanilla on the nose. Even at 47%, this mezcal tastes a lot hotter than it actually is. It has a sharp bite with lots of mineral and ashy notes that lay over a base of ground nuts and oak. It’s got a nice finesse on the palate, and the finish is long. I’m a huge fan of the Alipus lineup, and this one is my least favorite of their regular releases.

This is a crazy ensemble. I’ve never had these two agave together before, and the mix makes for an interesting balance. The peppery notes of the Tepeztate shine through with some fruity notes of cantaloupe and tangerine. This mezcal is hard to find (almost extinct) and I’ve enjoyed it each time I’ve been able to find it.

Lot DS 004-C from Feb 2014. A very special Rey Campero! This is clean on the nose with a bit of flint. The palate is vegetal with floral notes of orange blossom and rose hip, and fresh vegetal notes of green pepper, mint, and buttery potatoes. Very good!

Very clean on the nose with slight citrus aromas. Compared to other Mezcalero Mezcals, this is very mild in flavor. It’s complex and balanced. There are subtle tasting notes of tropical fruit and root vegetables like potatoes and beets. This Mezcal is completely unique. Everything about this seems muddled and distant.

After tasting Aquilino’s mezcal Espadin for years, I was a bit hesitant to try the new release from Joel Barriga. Out of all of the Vago releases, the straight Espadin was my least favorite. I’d always opt for the Elote or one of the agave silvestre over the Espadin. Overall, I would give the Aquilino Espadin 3 stars, as it was a bit overbearing and harsh. The burn of that mezcal didn’t really pay off like the other Vago mezcals I’d tried. The Joel Barriga release, however, is quite a bit different. It still has the heat (50.4% ABV) that is a signature in all Vago mezcals, but there seems to be more of a payout in his release. It’s much richer and fruit-forward. The body is semi-viscous with notes of apple, anise, flint, mango, and pepper. The nose is clean and lacks the strong aromas that are present in most other mezcal that is this high ABV. If you see the Joel Barriga Vago Espadin, I highly recommend it. I tasted Lot: J-E-01-16.

Lot 201. This mezcal is incredibly earthy. It has aromas of rich earth, wet leaves, and sweet damp hay in fall. This is a super vibrant mezcal and tastes of very wet earth. It’s notes are deep and earthy, rich and dark. This is the most unique madre-cuishe that I’ve tried.

Lot 10 from Sept 2014. The aroma of this mezcal is similar to that of the Siembra Metl Cenizo, which is odd given the Pechuga element. I find this Pechuga is not as meaty as most other Pechugas out there. Some of the additional spices come through on the palate with notes of sweet rosemary, cinnamon, cardamom, menthol, and papaya. This doesn’t taste much like a traditional Pechuga, but it’s a very good mezcal.

Fruity aromas are strong in this Mezcal. There’s almost no alcohol on the nose, which gives it an even feel before the first taste. There are some similarities to the Cupreata which is bottled by Siembra Metl. This Mezcal is a bit sharper and brighter than the Siembra Metl. Tasting notes include hints of orange and charcoal with a long finish.

This Mezcal is a good espadin. It’s very sweet with notes of orange and pineapple. There’s a lot of alcohol on the nose and the heat carries over a bit in the taste. The flavor doesn’t seem as full as some of their other expresssions.

Edition 05 from 2015. Slightly nutty aroma with tasting notes of hazelnut, smoke, coffee, and cream. Like other Nuestra Soledad, this is a hot Mezcal, but it’s creamy considering the ABV.