Batch CAP 08-21c
Bottled Feb. 2022

200ml
ABV: 49.0%

I love these small bottles, a great way to sample various mezcal from 5 Sentidos.

Nose: At first a very light smoke, then a sweat agave, tropical fruit, a bit funky in a good way, rain water.

Palate: Sweat agave, orange, guava, a funky old truck tire mineral taste which is interesting not bad or off putting.

Finish: Sweetness fades very slowly into a mineral terroir

A really enjoyable Espadin Capon !! Tasty but not boring.

I had this Mezcal at a restaurant on the California Coast two weeks ago. I order a one once pour…wow delicious! From memory: sweet fruit vegetal, minerals. I order a second pour…total enjoyment.

52.7 AVB, Lot number S-05-TOB-20, 153 Litters Grey label with gold lettering.

I was in San Antonio, TX and of course I made sure that I dropped into Alamo City Liquor (I meet the owner Frank!) This bottle of Vago Tobala en Barro and was a special batch for Alamo City Liquor and was “Reposado en cantaro” which means rested in the bottle? I’m not really sure of that term. Here is the video link if you want to watch it. https://youtu.be/blfdKCixGj8?si=mIte6cRhK7_g9L8m

Last Month from the video.

NOSE: Fruit, Plum, light smoke, a bit of the alcohol, Earthy clay, a plastic or rubber (but not bad), mineral, grassy, one note that I just can’t place sort of a funky musty aroma.

PALATE: Sweetness follow by smoke, rain water, complex, around the third sip; cake frosting, a light fruit taste that I could not find, maybe plum. I was not blown away, but for sure a really nice evening slow sipper.

MOUTHFEEL: light viscosity, smooth, light burn,

FINISH: Long, not sure about the after taste.

Today: Sept 3, 2023

NOSE: On the pour a blast of Orange, a hint of smoke, grass, earth, rocks, rain, vegetal.

PALATE: Citrus, light smoke, grass. lemon, light pleasant burn. Second sip; for just a moment a sharp sweetness which dissipates immediately into black, licorice herbal mix.

MOUTHFEEL: A light viscosity.

FINISH: Long finish, herbal, hint of mint? Sweet, after a few sips a long finish of black licorice, Lot’s of earth.

If you want to put a mood or a vibe to this one, or a color think very moody dark grey almost black. For my taste I would like to have something more up front, a bit more fruit or even more of the grass. In the video a month ago I gave this a rating of 4, but I’m gong to down grade a bit and give it a 3.5 but it’s closer to 4 something like a 3.8.

After dinner and a walk, we found our way to a Brooklyn cocktail bar and there I spotted a bottle of Vago Elote, I gave it a try and I’m glad that I did. The bottle was about 3/4 empty, I had no idea how long it had been on the shelves, I was not getting my hopes high for anything special. The notes that follow are from memory.

Nose: Grass, citrus, earthy, light barn yard turning into a light smoke

Palate: First note a blast of fruit citrus, than agave, grass, earth, a hint of dark chocolate, a very slight smoke.

Mouth Feel: A nice very smooth viscosity.

Finish: Long finish, complex, very nice.

At 50.2% ABV this is the best Espadín that I’ve had so far. I’m going to have to pick up a bottle at some point, I will update. Cheers Everyone.

I had this at Gran Eléctrica in Brooklyn. The food there is just ok, but they have a pretty good Mezcal list. I had El Jolgorio Madrecuishe after dinner and it was fantastic. Nose: Very earthy and mineral, rain on a hot road, grassy, floral.
Palate: Fruit, clay, complex with a long finish. Delicious.

A 150 liter batch ARQTP 02-22. 50.7% AVB.
It all gets complicated from here out. Please bear with me I’m still a “Mezcal Rookie”.

First pour:

Nose: Strong Agave, Green, slight smoke, slight camp fire.

Palate: Very green, strong agave, some smoke, slight citrus, note of pine, a bit of mint, not very complex. (Em, added black pepper on the tongue)

Mouth Feel: A really nice viscosity.

Finish: Long dark finish.

In the video ( https://youtu.be/zTzC5qIccsA ) we made I rated this a 3, Em rated it a 2.5. All in all I was a bit disappointed. We did not have our socks knocked off.

That night after dinner, I tried another pour, this time the noise was somehow sweeter. The palate was vegetal with a slight sweetness, black pepper, on third sip there was a light burn as in a hot pepper, but without the pepper taste. Smooth very long herbal finish with agave and then black pepper…the finish is really smooth, just keeps going and going. Going to change my rating to 3.5 This is a mexcal to really take ones time with. Maybe it’s just my lack of knowledge of the various tastes of mescal, that I do not understand the taste of this maguey? I’m thinking this could grow on me.

Next evening…another two once pour…sort of shocking, the nose more less the same, clean, green, but now zero smoke. The Palate is better, right off a blast of citrus, then dark chocolate mixed with agave, a bit burn, but then very smooth on the next sip. A long delicious after taste. What I’m calling agave maybe is what some people are calling a funk?…for me it’s dark deep green vegetal mix with dark chocolate. What is going on? Have I changed or did the mezcal change with a bit of air in the bottle for 48 hours? I’m going to stick to 3.5 rating, but I could now go to a 4, but really like a 3.9.

I’m still a rookie but, ok, now I’m truly blown away and believe that mezcal is the nectar of the gods. Right from the first smell of this it was all sort of a shock. This was my first Tepextate, and it lived up to the hype. Batch TPXLE 09-20, 97-Liter batch, Distilled September 2020, bottled July 2021 by Luis Enigue Juarez. ABV 44.3%

NOSE: The first impact was smoke, which dissipated quickly into wet earth or moist dirt. The smoke is like the coals of a camp fire, or an ash tray (but in a good way). Green vegetal.

PALATE: Light burn more of a spiciness, jalapeno, fruit, citrus, complex, a light sweetness, grapefruit ending.

MOUTHFEEL: Very smooth, light, goes down easy.

FINISH: light sweet citrus, very clean.

Just incredible, special and delicious. Where do I go after this? I would love to hear a suggestion from someone on what to try next. My wife also votes five stars. We made a video of our tasting you can see it here: https://youtu.be/_SKX8mFuwiQ

This is my third bottle of Mezcal and this one is a winner. This is from Batch AMA -04 Bottle 31/293. Mezcalero – Amando Alvarado Alvarez.

NOSE: Light, almost no smoke, clean, a light good vegetable agave aroma

PALATE: Citrus, Fruit, Honey, Peach, a hint of a light licorice after taste. Second glass a light taste freshly cut grass. A few days later I’m as I’m writing this I’m having a glass all of the previous plus a very pleasant earthy taste, really awesome.

MOUTHFEEL: Very smooth, well rounded, light, goes down super easy.

FINISH: light licorice after taste, earth taste (sweet agave?)

This was a hit for me, the best Mezcal I’ve had so far, totally enjoyable. Perfect to sit down with at the in the evening to sip and relax with. I’m going with 4.5, my wife gives this one 5 starts. I made a video of opening this bottle and a review at https://youtu.be/KEC7C6EYd1g If you watch it then say hello in the comments. cheers, Ronco

Union Viejo lot number L3019XX011 Bottle number 2499/9924
I’m still learning about Mezcal, but so far I’m really enjoying what I’ve tasted.
It’s been a some time I’ve had now some better Mezcals, so I’m dropping Union do to 3 stars
from 3.5.

NOSE: Light smoke, you can smell some of the alcohol.

PALATE: Citrus, Fruit, then smoke, heat going down. Second sip sweeter taste, agave.

MOUTHFEEL: Smooth, light.

FINISH: Dry clean finish

I’ve made a video a few months back for this review. https://youtu.be/DEBwzLlt798 If you watch it then say hello in the comments. cheers, Ronco

Yo Everyone,

I’m totally new to Mezcals, this is my first review so please bear with me… it’s a steep learning curve. I became curious about mezcal after reading the novel “Under The Volcano” by Malcolm Lowry. If you have not yet read it, you should it’s a classic. At first I tried a couple mezcal margaritas, enjoyed them and decided I should investigate further.

I went to my local shop and picked up a bottle of Del Maguey Vida.

NOSE: Apple, Smoke, Alcohol, A Smoke seems to come and go, a more floral smell with the second sip.

PALATE: Lemon, Alcohol in the nose, Light Smoke

MOUTHFEEL: Light burn on back of the tongue

FINISH: Long after taste, Agave, smoke comes back, then a Metallic, end not the best.

All in all it’s not that bad, two and a half stars works. I would not say its complex, seems to get a bit better tasting after it sits in the glass for a while (Is that a thing?) It would be better if the notes of alcohol were not present.

I’ve made a video of this tasting at my youtube channel please join me there I would love to get some feedback and recommendations for a mezcal that will knock my socks off.
https://youtu.be/14osV1WQs0o

Cheers, your pal Ronco