Lot TV21. Another stellar mezcal from the state of Guerrero. This has aromas of lemon peel, eucalyptus, mint, and steamed broccoli and green beans. The palate has notes of raw honey, molasses, maple, figs, raisins, dates, and hazelnut. This is rich and viscous. It jumps out of the glass and coats the palate.

AGA-LEC-001. Wild nose that is all over the place. This has aromas of newly cut grass clippings, lemongrass, fresh chives, green olives, briny sea water, malted grains, yogurt, and buttermilk. The palate has notes of green pepper, jalapeno, cilantro, slate, pencil lead, and mesquite smoke. This is a dynamic and complex spirit.

NAZ-ARR-001. The nose on this is very different from what I’d expect from an Arroqueno. That said, an Arroqueno from Puebla is quite rare and unique. This has aromas of strawberry, blackberry, and black currant. Those berry-like notes mix with hints of sulphur, spent fireworks, and burnt matches. The palate is sweet and thick. Notes of bubblegum, kiwi, guava, honeydew, and cantaloupe. There’s also this slightly sour pineapple note, like biting into pineapple that is cut too close to rind. This is really nice and has a beautiful finish.

Lote 06. Strong aromas of slate, freshly fallen leaves, and cloves. There are also some aromas like dry erase markers, pencil lead, and gun powder. The palate again is rich with slate, and notes of root vegetables like potatoes, yams, and turnips.

Lot 05. Bottle 94. Aromas of citrus with notes of orange, grapefruit, apricot. There are also aromas of slate and chalky minerals. The palate is a bit sharp, but softens up with time in the glass. It has notes of salted caramel, toasted almonds, sticky corn syrup. This is a really nice expression from Sola de Vega, with some really deep minerality and fruity notes that I enjoy a lot.

Lot 001 from 2019. A little sour on the nose, but also highly sweet and sugary. Notes of sweet green apples, plum, apricot, grape flavored candy, and strawberry shortcake. The palate mostly matches the nose in terms of notes. It’s highly candied and sweet, thick and robust, and high in minerality. For me, this is the perfect cross between the funky sweetness that can come with a raicilla from this region, and the intense minerality that is typically there in Chacolo batches. This is my favorite bottle that I’ve tasted in quite some time.

Lot 001 from 2016. This smells incredible. Notes of Sweet Tarts, Goetze candies, and strawberry Cream Savers. This smells like pure candy. The palate has notes of dark fruits like plums, pomegranate, and black cherries. There are also some hints of sweet cream. The tasting notes are still very sweet, but less so than the aromas. This is balanced and nuanced with deep fruity undertones. I’m enjoying this a lot.

Batch from March 2016, exclusive for El Cerrito Liquor. Aromas of brown sugar, baked goods, green apple, pear, allspice, and nutmeg. The palate is thick and robust. Notes of plum, pomegranate, white onion, clove, and a bit of burning sage. The finish is long and dry with hints of freshly baked sugar cookies. This is sweet, dark, and delicious. This is one that I’ll be reaching for again and again. A fantastic spirit.

Batch REF-TEQ-001. Aromas of havarti, whipped cream, under-ripe strawberries, guava, and green bananas. The palate is a bit sharp. It has layers of tangy, almost sour tropical fruit, like if you made a smoothie of not-yet-ripe guava, mango, and papaya. An additional lemon flavor persists throughout this, but is most present on the finish.

Batch EMA-TEQ-001. Aromas of pineapple, cantaloupe, limeade, key lime pie, and double mint gum. The palate has notes of honeydew melon, coconut, hickory, cedar, and ash. I really wanted to like this one more, but it’s just not very complex and is a bit thin.

Lote GN-01ENS. This has more going on than I’d expect from a 42% ABV mezcal. I can’t say that about the other releases from this brand unfortunately. It’s still a bit more muted than I’d like, but there are some interesting things going on. Aromas of chalky minerals and highly acidic fruits, like lemon and lime. The palate isn’t what I’d expect. Notes of green apples, nopales, tomatillos, and sweet corn.

Batch ENS04/19. An absolutely phenomenal spirit. This is big and fruity with great body and finish. The aromas include notes of mango, pineapple, and strawberry lemonade. The palate continues with the lemonade theme. Additional tasting notes of hot honey, wildflowers, mango, strawberry cream, grapefruit, and orange essence. This is a total tropical fruit bomb. Fantastic!

Lot LSMA01. Aromas of chalk, copper, salt, bran, rolled oats, and vanilla cake. The palate is soft and delicate. Notes of lilac, eucalyptus, aloe, green tea, stewed vegetables, and chardonnay. This is nice and a step outside of what I’ve tasted from Cuentacuentos in the past.

Lot DS002-E+C. Aromas of gun powder, pencil lead, green apples, and iodine. The palate has notes of burnt potato skins, sage, cilantro, granny smith apple skins, and menthol cigarettes. There’s this earthy element to this, like when you can taste the soil on a carrot that is freshly pulled from the ground. There’s also a good amount of heat on the back of the palate.

Lot 01/19 from Alberto Vasquez. Smells floral with lots of slate. Aromas of fresh flowers, confectionary sugar, and apple cider vinegar. The palate has notes of root beer, sarsparilla, molasses, raisins, coffee grounds, and chocolate. This is dark and brooding. This is really solid.

Aromas of green olives, dry hay, smoked oysters, and soy sauce. The nose is salty. The palate is woody with notes of either plastic or metal. I can’t tell which, maybe both. That chemical flavoring is throughout the tasting experience. This is not my jam. No batch number on the sample.

Batch from Gilberto Roldan. Slightly sour fruit on the nose, but not much of that, very subtle. The palate is almost malty with more notes of dark fruit, and a grape soda or grape Jolly Rancher type note. There’s a bit of heat on this but it’s really pleasant and present on the palate. No batch number on sample.

Very aromatic. Aromas of cherry, peach, burnt toast, and honey. The palate is peppery. Additional notes of anise, aloe, mushrooms, celery, mint, and hemp rope. This is super approachable. Short finish. No batch number on sample.

Smells amazing. Highly and intensely aromatic. Aromas of cottage cheese, vanilla, and pineapple. The palate is coconut, cucumber, watermelon, vanilla, fresh peppercorns, campfire smoke. Perfumed finish. No batch number on sample.

Smells clean. Aromas of fresh green vegetables: lettuce, green pepper, and peas. The palate has notes of smoke, sherry, black pepper, cognac, caramel, chocolate, and slightly lactic. There’s also this odd umami thing going on. No batch number on sample.