Super bright with citrus and fruit notes. It’s as though this was fermenting in a lemon orchard – so prominent it can sometimes hit you like Pine-sol.

Had high expectations and was a little disappointed at first. Started out with a petro bite and overly peppery.

Greatly improved as it breathed though. Fruity notes like starburst and fruit punch started to shine. Clean and bright with enjoyable mineral/wet cement finish. A little green agave pungency that comes with a lot of tequilas. Was interesting to contrast to clay pot arroqueno from RM that was darker and earthier.

Edition 05, 2016, Pedro Vasquez

Bold bananas, caramel, and chocolate. Sweet, intense, and delicious. Could pass for a banana fosters liqueur. Tempted to buy a bottle, but it’s quite pricey.

ARMA-04, 2020

Savory and brothy like a comfy bowl of chicken soup. Smokey meat forward. Didn’t get a lot of fruit but was detecting something starchy like rice or plantains in the background. Easy to enjoy.

RMP-02, 2015, Don Lorenzo

Perfect balance between mineral and herbal. Has just the right amount of sweetness. Full of flavor and character yet soft and round at the same time. If not my favorite Melate release to date, easily in the top 3!

Could probably finish the whole bottle in one sitting. It’s not mind-blowing, it’s just really, really tasty.

Didn’t have a typical espadin nose for me- had more of a green vegetal note. As it had a chance to air out it just got sweeter and sweeter. Reminded me a lot of lemon bars.

Super well-rounded and drinkable, yet has some standout features. Typical Americana cheese on the nose which is always pleasant. Loaded with minerality all the way through. After oxidation the bubblegum fruitiness starts to shine.

Every time I drink it, I think “soft” – absolutely no edge. However, while being soft, it is also robust and full-flavored!

Absolutely delightful! At first whiff, I could tell this had something unique about it. I’m assuming this is because I’ve had little exposure to spirits from Michoacán.

It’s super clean, but definitely not sterile. Has a nice play between minerality and fruitiness. I have to give credit to the reviewer who said freeze-dried strawberries…spot on! It has complexity too, but instead of trying to put my finger on all those notes, I’m just going to sit back and enjoy this one for whatever it is.

I had a sample sent to me as part of a virtual tasting. I bought a bottle online before the night was over. Amazing price point!

The sweetest tasting Tepe I’ve ever had! Fermenting bananas and wet/rich banana bread. Character is very prominent on nose and carries through mouth. Continues into finish with a hint of lactic acid and green herbs. Could be a 5 star if it wasn’t so one-dimensional. Super drinkable.

Zesty celery and green peppers. Some hints of Parmesan cheese on the nose. Lots of brine on the mouth, almost like a well herbed/spiced soup. Finish has a lingering bite that I actually find enjoyable.

Cinnamon, clove, allspice, nutmeg…baking spices galore. Touch of berries with balanced clay notes. A bit hot at first. If some mezcals are described as green, this one is brown.

Banana fosters, caramelized agave, creme brûlée, clean/bright citrus but also some dampness too. Could have fooled me for a Karwinskii. One of the best Espadins I’ve had!

I’ve had this one many times now and it remains a mystery to me as there are notes I can’t put my finger on. It’s very aromatic and almost like perfume. In the mouth, that can carryover as overly sweet floral oils.

There’s also bell peppers covered in chili pepper seasoning. Sometimes the strong sweetness comes across chemical, like caulk or paint? I’m on the fence with this one – unique to say the least.

D5003-M, Dec 2015

Perfect balance of smoke, fruit, and minerals. Floral notes on the nose. Suave mouthfeel. Finish of fresh pine/eucalyptus and dry stone. It’s a bright and quintessential Espadin sold at an amazing price! LOT SAM011/15

Smokey and fruity. Has a bit of a grungy bite from deep smoke notes along with a touch of rubber and gasoline. I was actually able to enjoy sipping on this when I first started with mezcal, but my palate has since been spoiled.

VERY interesting! This one bounced back and forth between fruity and medicinal…reminds me a lot of dark rum. Nose: light Tabasco, herbal, cough syrup. Mouth: deep grilled fruit, roasted sugar, oak, caramel, orange zest. Finish: lemon squares, burnt coffee beans, copper, dried apricot, cherry cough drops, dried dates. Quite the unique experience.

Green, unique, and easy. On the nose, mild white cheese up front, then fades to sauteed sweet peppers, green beans, vegetal, just lots of green. I get green agave on the palate with light smoke. Pleasant, sweet, mineral finish that lingers. Starts funky and balances out the deeper you go. A little on the light side in terms of intensity, but because of that, super drinkable. This one is fun!

Complex! Ever evolving experience with each sip. On the nose, grass near an ocean, lemon zest, earthy nuttiness. In your mouth you get that high proof tingle followed by deep earth, roasted agave, flowers, sweet potato, and cypress/pine. Tons of heat on the finish fades into pepper, minerals, and caramel. 90/10 blend from October 2014.

Bright, light, unique. I really liked this one! It had a lot of character for being considered a lower proof mezcal. Crispy and citrusy nose at first, but as it breathed, I started getting light diary with a hint of grass. Imagine morning dew that was made of milk. In the mouth, tropical fruits like papaya with smoke. Sweet caramel and toasted sugar finish. Wasn’t overbearing in any way, so it’s very approachable.

Disappointing. The bottle at the bar has been sitting there for many years with the label all faded and peeling off, so perhaps something happened to it. It started out with sharp alcohol vapors, plastic, and a strong gasoline bite. Luckily as it aired out it became drinkable. Still very one dimensional with mostly licorice, a bit of herb, and dry walnut finish. Bummer!