This is one of my favorites from the club so far, up there with Don Fede’s espadilla. Bottle number 679. The aroma is super interesting and really good: rich with cedar sawdust and bright mango-it says “drink me”. Taste is as yummy as the aroma with good wood from campfire-but not smokey-maybe pine and some more fruit tastes. Finish is exceptionally long and great. It evolves the wonderful tastes and aromas. Más Chacaleño por favor.

Awesome bbq aroma. Lots of Smokey, wood flavors. Taste is wonderful and smooth. Finish is long and flavorful.

While I did not like this one, I didn’t dislike it. It’s very interesting. Aroma is like wet socks, but somehow in a good way. The taste is very musty with potting soil and mushrooms. ¡Muy interesante!

This is great. I love Don Fede’s Espadilla solo, but this ensamble is sensational. So much going on with from aroma to finish. Wow. Great balance and flavor.
Note to self review this next to the Espadilla base.

My least favorite from the first Maguey Melate tasting box.
The aroma is not bad with mango,
pineapple and light smoke.
Taste is not good with way too much smoke and bitterness.
The finish is bitter with gasoline aftertaste.

This is from the first tasting box. It’s my favorite from the box. Aroma is good with light smoke and root vegetables possibly squash – very clean.

Taste is great and well-balanced. There is a hint of smoke, and light fruit.

The finish is sensational! There is a really good heat and all of the flavors and aromas balance together for a long lasting trip to the tummy!

I have seen great reviews for the ensamble version of this with Tobalá. I would love to try it.

Really nice all around. From the Maguey Melate tasting box. Aroma is good, clean with light smoke. Rakhal was right when he mentioned cedar. The taste is bold and strong but the finish is my favorite part: it’s like hot lava and asparagus! Super fun.

I like this a lot. Easy to drink with lots going on. Aroma is the best part with fruit, flowers and a hint of smoke. Taste is strong with an immediate tang in the mouth. The tang fades and buzzes the tongue with smoke and some sweetness. Finish is ok.

This is for two different mezcals. The regular cupreata and the “mezontle” infusion.

First the small bottle of cupreata: diesel aroma with undertones of gasoline. Not good. Flavor is not much better with medicinal notes and dirty laundry. Lo siento. 2/5

Mezontle infused cupreata: much better than the taster bottle. Aroma is good with smoke and some light sweetness. Taste is very thin but good with smoky, roasted agave flavors. A little bitterness on the finish. 3/5

Included in the maguey Melate tasting box. I have the big bottle of pechuga 2 which I love. Fun to taste the “base” espadín next to the pechuga. Rodrigo’s espadín is wonderful. From aroma to finish it’s great. I wish I had big bottle of this espadín. One of the best espadíns I have tasted.

I have never had pulquero mezcal. I reallly like this one. Aroma is interesting but good with a creamy quality a bit cheesy. Taste is surprisingly smooth with mineral and floral qualities. The finish is long with some good heat and pepper. More please!

My first shipment (and first review) from Maguey Melate subscription. I’m very excited. When I saw the picture on the back of the “trading card” included with the shipment I was already in love. Look at all that Fruit!! They describe the process as a “fruity, mezcal stew”. Rad. And very good. This is the best mezcal I have tasted. Aroma is tangy, sweet juicy-fruit. Taste is great but not as sweet as the aroma. Good heat with minimal smoke. Finish is really long with lots of fun flavors as it progresses.

I thought it was a fairly heavy-barrel reposado tequila when I first had it. As tequila it is an easy and flavorful sipper. Plenty of caramel and black pepper. I began to question the use of additives in this “tequila”. But it’s a mezcal. I’ve heard the company is owned by Coke. As a mezcal, no espadín flavors at all. It is sweet and smooth with very little complexity. Also heard it is mass produced.

We got this bottle at the distillery in December 2019. If you get a chance to visit the distillery you should do so. It is an incredible journey and the distillery is old and beautiful. Don Rosario gave us a tour and a tasting.
The color is light straw, considering it has been in barrels for 9 months, very light. Oily in the glass with long lasting legs/tears.
Aroma is wonderful with strong agave, butter and pepper. Lots of character.
Taste is full of agave with some buttery sweetness, a bit more interesting than tequilana weber (el azul), hints of nuts and citrus.
Finish has pepper, some warm and dark sweetness, and last medium-long–very pleasant. Smooth and refined but still having some bold character.
Overall: this is a mezcal (but not in name due to the rebel nature of this company) made with the tequila process–most notably without smoke, they use steam ovens. As a “tequila” I rate it 4/5. As a “mezcal” its 3/5. Please keep breaking the rules! Great stuff.

This is cheating. It really is tequila in everything but name and CRT certification. The name Caballito Cerrero means the shoeless horse but in context it is the horse that kicks off its shoes. Very fitting for a tequila distillery That bucks the system. We have visited The distillery. It was one of the best adventures getting there! If you have a chance to go it’s a must.
This is one of the best. Technically it is distiliado de agave but really it is GREAT tequila. Yes, made the old fashioned way except with steam instead of smoke and fire.
Aroma, Taste and finish are all really strong and bold, Just like a good Mezcal. Everything else that Johnny reported is accurate. If you can find it, get it.

Lote B0060EB4220.
The front label is crooked. I kind of love that. Handmade all the way to the label. This is a really good Mezcal. And I don’t just mean because it cost $30. It has good flavor, the aroma is not too smoky, and the finish is warm and long and has a great taste of citrus. This is A Mezcal to keep around in your bar. It might even make Mezcal newbies into mezcal lovers.

A good all-around sipper. From aroma to taste to finish, it’s good.

Tasted this while watching Agave: Spirit of a Nation-which features Don Aquilino. I really tried to smell and taste the corn…but couldn’t. I guess I must try it again 😉
Aroma was strong with agave and pepper. Taste was even stronger with more pepper and hay. Mouthfeel was viscous and nice and the initial heat mellowed to pleasing warmth. Finish was the best part: warm, long with some minerals in the background. Conclusion: I need to try this again.
UPDATE FEB 2021: still like this a lot. Very strong taste. Finish is still the most incredible sensation. Lot FEB 2020 @ 50.4abv. Bump half a star.

Lote 001 bottle 204 (out of 672). At 50% alcohol I thought it would be hot. Not so. Aroma is strong with agave and cut flowers. The taste is sensational with fresh mint and pine (maybe from the fermentation vats) sweet fruit in the background. The best part though is the finish-smooth and warm with pleasant farm-like tastes going down.

Solid mezcal with medium smoke. From aroma to taste to finish–just good. Great all-around mezcal.