2023 release Tepextate shines exquisitely in this year’s batch. Notes of green pepper and cracked jalapeño on the nose, and hints of wild flower in the perfume.

Taste profile of citrus, orange, and wild honey. Hints of cream and charred fruit linger in the background while vegetal notes dissipate over time.

Medium finish with the evolution of flavor opens up as the mezcal settles. I recommend opening the bottle and letting it sit in the glass over time as you enjoy.

This very smooth yet overly herbal Bicuixe from Don Valente shows off his prowess as a master. Great notes of dried peppers, guajillo chilli, orange blossom, and spiced candied mango help evolve this mezcal to a complete finish. The musky and green moss notes remind me Savannah GA after a rainy day. Great addition to the Mezcalero line

This Tepextate severely disappoints with its lack of complexity. I’m usually a huge fan of Tepe, but the lack of a body and dry profile doesn’t give the clarity of better produced Tepextates. This line may have harvested the agave early considering the low ABV of 45 and lack of frontal aroma. The flavor can satisfy your pallet for the price, but I recommend searching for a Tepextate from a higher altitude. Check out San Luis Del Rio or Ocotlan if you want to experience an aromatic and herbal flavor of more complexity.

This aromatic Karwinskii comes off fresh and herbal with fresh cut cedar wood notes. The subtle musky notes can slightly overpower the finish, but it comes off smoother than other products out there.

This Black Bottle is especially exquisite because it is Jose Cortes gift to the world. His last production of Mezcal and given the rarity of this specific Maguey its no wonder the price is over $200. The notes are complex as it will evolve in your mouth as you sip and enjoy. The luscious forest fauna and spiced notes of dried fruit are the initial taste profile. Suddenly the numbing of your mouth gives way to more intricate wild black oaxacan honey, white peach, and fresh river water. The finish is lasting with a fervor that sits on the outer edges of your mouth.

As a Tepextate lover this is an excellent addition to this line. If you have never tasted #21 the #24 gives you a earthy profile with hints of honeysuckle, dates, and citrus. The blend with espadin helps add more balance to the drier aspects of the tepextate. Excellently paired with charred meats and dry rubs.

This is an intricate Tobala that is excellently distilled by one of my favorite Maestros Don Cosume Hernandez and his son Cirial. This Mezcal takes on notes of tropical fruit, wild flowers, honeydew melon, and orange blossom. The profile is clean on the tongue with a subtle dissipation of flavor with each sip.