Buttery is the adjective that comes to mind throughout this sip. Salted butter and bright agave on the nose. Buttery mouthfeel with only a hint of alcohol in the form of black pepper. Palate of earthy agave with a hint of acidity balanced perfectly with clay pot, a touch of melted butter. Finish is mostly that acidic agave, pretty short. A quintessential mezcal, more robust flavor and finish would improve the grade. 89/100

Great on the palate but the lifeless nose brings it down. Nose is muted, gentle but uninteresting, subtle agave and pepper. Palate is much more complex with sweet agave and sweet pepper without being cloying. Mouthfeel is rich and supple. Finish is short but pleasantly sweet and vegetal. 82/100

Wonderfully dry and grassy, much drier than most agave spirits I’ve had. Nose is strong lemongrass, blanched asparagus, parsley, celery and leafy green veg. Palate matches the nose but here a bit of agave sweetness comes in that wasn’t on the nose and there’s a delicious asparagus salad flavor. Still overall a very dry spirit. Mouthfeel is richer than the dry taste and nose would suggest. Finish is long and refreshing with a bit of astringency and lots of lemongrass. 88/100

Another fantastic offering from Mezonte. Jony found this to be incredibly complex but did not fit his palate. Well it fits my palate perfectly because I love the tangy yogurt notes found in both the nose and palate. I’m not sure about pickles and hotdog water though, I got mostly red and black berries, lemongrass, yogurt, creme fraiche, honey and agave. Mouthfeel is rich and coats the whole palate. Finish is long and leaves only the pleasant aspects of yogurt with honey and agave. 93/100

Seriously one of the best things I’ve ever tasted in any category of food or spirit. Everything about this is too complex for words but I’ll do my best: Nose is overwhelmingly heady in entirely good ways. No burn nor spice, thick odor of fresh rain, berry soda, chocolate frosting and bbq agave. Palate is berries and cream, predominantly blueberry balanced perfectly with super fresh, grassy earth and hints of chocolate, always with agave in the background. Mouthfeel is luxurious velvet at first then finishes with a crisp tingly minerality that is almost effervescent. Hard not to give a perfect score, 97/100

Continuing the trend of Rey Campero’s I’ve tried this has a lot of nice notes but overall is too unrefined to be amazing. This Tepextate is spicy and herbacious on the nose, very dry. Palate belies the nose with a bit of agave sweetness backing up a medley of vegetables including celery, cucumber, parsley, bell pepper. Finish is medium length, mostly peppery veg. 83/100

Tropical fruit, cooked agave and nail polish on the nose. I often get a ‘nail polish’ note from A. Convallis but it is particularly strong with the Campero. That note is much more subdued on the palate which is dominated by tropical fruit, citrus and cooked pinapple, backed by strong vegetable notes. Mouthfeel is very viscous and heavy. Finish is more vegetal than fruit but fruit notes remain. Overall a heady and complex spirit but brash. 85/100

Like most Rey Campero mezcals this one is a bit rough around the edges but overall quite good. Peppery spice on the nose along with lots of cooked agave and bell pepper. Palate is herbacious and vegetal with green bell pepper and white pepper spice. Mouthfeel is not thin but not particularly rich. Nice drying finish with minerality and white pepper. 80/100