Lot A-37-M-14, 50.2% ABV. Peaches, Canela picosa, Crema Catalana; HOT & sweet pleasures galore.
After spending more time with this bottle, tar notes have become prominent. An initial aroma of unglazed clay pot remains, but tar is now evident in the background. Tar again shows up in the smoky finish with prominence. My tar impression is akin to unseasoned (green) mesquite wood smoke, which imparts creosote-like aromatics & flavor.
Batch: Y-108-16, 48% ABV. Initial aroma of clay flower pot and a hint of sandalwood. Dry herbal flavors with hot spice, cara cara orange, and elusive floral notes far-off in the background. This mezcal had an overall dry character I liked at first, then over time turned to an unappealing tar.
GAD-G 1438, 45% ABV. Warmth, minerality, herbs & spices (lots of them), lavender flowers, licorice, juniper berries, smoke, agave sweetness, finishing with Chinese five-spice, baked agave, Lampong peppercorns, light smoke, and delicate sweetness. Three star rating qualifiers: subdued agave for one, and while infusions are not new in the mezcal world, this is an over-the-top novelty. However, it is also deserving of four stars for drinking straight enjoyment compared to grain based gins, and five stars for fun!
Beautiful, exotic, elegant, fragrant. Sweet, savory, soft, yet crisp, the finish is delicately sweet, creamy, and floral. I love the aroma of blooming lilacs remaining in an empty glass. There’s not a single harsh note to San Pablo Ameyaltepec; this is a very delicious mezcal.
HONEY, green olive brine, sea salt, agave, ripe banana, grapefruit, smoke. Almost four stars for me.
Sweet, fruity, hint of citrus & pine, light smoke, and characteristic touch of copper on tip of tongue; viva Michoacán! The downside over time, top-heavy sweetness mutes other pleasures within.
Initial nose of butterscotch over agave, tastes of almond and baking spices folding into cucumber & fresh cut asparagus, a thread of minerality throughout, nectar sweetness plus the wildflowers that go with it overlay all. Its very pleasant aftertaste is icing the cake. I don’t detect smoke till the glass is empty. This is a delightful mezcal.
Lot A-08-T-16, 53.1% ABV, Aquillino. Minerality, green grapes, green olives, green chilies, light floral background, smoked brisket, prickly pear BBQ sauce, leather, campfire smoke. Spicy & substantial; more food like than beverage. A wonderful mezcal.
Lot E-03-MC-16, 51.6% ABV, Emigdio. Viscous mouthfeel, mint, grilled fruit, dried juniper berries, sweet smoke and star anise on the finish, agave sweetness throughout. This is a very good Mezcal. My wife and I sometimes differ on flavor likes, not for this Mezcal; I like it a lot, she’s passionate about it. We became instant Emigdio fans with the first sip.
Lot A-21-C-15, 52.1% ABV, Aquilino; this was not an easy-drinker. I had to focus to find rewards. Initial impressions of ethereal solvents and Gitanes Brunes were hard to reconcile with the marvelous agave characteristics deep within. Toward the end of this bottle’s life, wonderfully complex agave flavors moved forward. This Mezcal expression was BOLD.
Leonardo – funk, earth, clay; not the sweet side of Espadin or Arroqueno. I give it four stars for its strength of character, but would give it three and a half stars if that option were available. To be clear, I like funk, it is a good thing.
After resting for years in a store’s inventory, cedar notes toned down a bit, fruit & anise flavors moved foreword, smoke is still there, and its long complex & sweet finish lasts into next week. This is a gem from the past.
The lighter side of Agave Tepextate. It’s an easy drinker due to low ABV and simple flavor profile; somewhat metallic finish though.
Five stars for Lot S-01-CME-16, 78% Coyote/18% Espadin/4% Mexicano; 52% ABV. Warm, bright, dry spices, hint of sandalwood, delightfully sizzles on the tongue, sweet on the lips.
