I wanted to like this one a bit more, and didn’t hate it. A nose which led to promise, but the muted flavors otherwise made me feel like this was “Emsambles 101”. Not bad, but all in all a lazy attempt it seems.
A nice bright mezcal. Some fresh cut celery and a bit of star fruit at the beginning which stays with you for a while. Not the most dynamic, but a decent aperitif.
Really nice texture, while being a old and opened bottle. The ABV is just right. Lots of nice elements to it while being simple and a few note song. Reminds me of food.
Terrible.
Watery, off-putting, horrible. Negative stars in reality.
Lot 3. December 2017. 380 liters. Volume 3a.
Another twist and turn of direction! Really broad on the palate, certainly some mint as mentioned in the other review here. Behind the mint it a really interesting herbal complexity, I can’t tell if it’s more medicinal or food-like. Terrific weight on the palate. I fucking love it!
Lot 001. May 2019. 32 liters!** Volume 4.
I cannot believe how small this batch I!. Absolutely took hold of me, this pour. Some serious blue type cheese on the nose and that somehow translated again to what was on the palate. The warm creamy texture with that lactic addition was totally impressive. I cannot believe how different these are while still being Agave Angustifolia. Incredible mouthfeel and different from most other alcohol I’ve ever had. Crazy!
Lot 2. January 2018. 259 liters. Volume 4.
Second Chacolo of the night. Not at all disappointed! This pour left me wondering how such sweet a flavor could be pulled out from the Agave Angustifolia. It’s like there is special effect in the fermentation or something, I’ve learned they distill in a sort of wooden tree trunk. Fascinating. The candy like flavors are somehow so rounded, and the finish is never-ending. Amazing.
Lot 001. June 2019. 62 Liters. Volume 5.
Happy Father’s Day to me! I’ve heard about Chacolo a long time now, and am very excited by this set. Sounds like it was pretty tough to find.
The nose on this was totally beguiling. There was this amazing amount of lemon citrus going on, while being closely followed by a delightful seafood type note. I dove in expecting the nose to mislead me but then again I was wrapped up in the most unusual way by this. The mouthfeel was totally unique, weighty and lots of interesting flavors. Some of the best agave spirit I’ve ever had.
Lot 1, 110 liters, 2018. 48%. Aciano Mendoza. Agave Cenizo.
Wonderfully expressive and oily on the nose, as expected. Tons of layers of flavor first sip, quenching the thirst but leaving you wanting. So you have more. Equally impressive every sip onward. A terrific spirit which was obviously extremely well made.
Batch RMS-02, bottle 35/65, harvest 2016.
Flavors bursting out of the gates on the nose, unlike some clay pot distillates you might encounter. Lots of dynamic complexity on the palate, just as many ripe fruit notes as there are mineral qualities and a ton of fresh blossomed flowers. A serious dram of agave spirit.
Lot 4, Bottle 69-285 made 5/17.
Bright pollen notes, with a Sardinian olive oil brine. Nearly just a curiosity try due to the proof, perhaps that’s it’s selling point. Otherwise lacking in complexity and balance. One to pour for random friends.
This was the pick of the bunch, from the July 2020 “Signature Box”. In fact it’s really the only one I’d call “drinkable” and for sure the only I wanted to go back and had another glass of. While the previous two were rather “tailsy” this 375ml of Madre Cuixe was well made, interesting and inviting flavors every step of the way. Nice finish as well.
This was the second of the round of three I opened. Gave it a nice sniff and got some texture on the nose that felt promising. Then gulped it a bit and was extremely underwhelmed by the lack of vibrancy. Verbena, sure. Canela, yeah. But otherwise nothing really going on.
It smelled like Tepextate. Tasted somewhat like Tepextate, surely had the whole nacho thing going on. Lacked really otherwise, faded away after the one note. All in all, what you might expect from 45.7% and new mezcaleros.
Lot S-02-TOB-17, April 2017, 52.20% 78 liters.
Another case of a long opened bottle, to my dismay. I recall thinking this was rather special, but 52.20% and this much time with air in the bottle the prettier notes fade away. Tastes like old butterscotch and not much else. Maybe a whiff of rotten banana. Two old Tio Rey en Barro’s in a row and I feel like my next trip to the store deserves fresh bottles and less drinking.
Lot S-01/08-ECBB-17, October 2017, 652 liters, 84% Espadin, 9% Coyote, 5% Blanco 2% Barril.
Normally a big fan of Tio Rey and his Ensambles but a bit let down here. Perhaps it’s another case of a bottle open for too long, but the ethanol glosses over the bouquet of things-once-nice. I don’t quite understand the idea of listing percentages so small, might as well leave the drinker to guess the remaining 16% with slices so thin. Any good descriptors have long burnt off here, only leaving sharp honeysuckle and melty crayon to savor.
Lot A-05-EM-19, date unknown 50.5%, 139 liters.
This is a funny one, polarizing right out of the gates. I believe when I first bit into it (jaja) I enjoyed it like I would a good sweet cheap beer after a long day. The price wasn’t bad and flavor was acceptable. Rounding back to it now the boozy element lifts right over top, and it falls awkwardly towards the crunchy acrid side of things. I’d recommend it in a flight but not something I’d want to take on a road trip. Pairs well with this natural wine trend, maybe.
April 2018, 49 liters. 51.30%.
It’s perhaps been since the release that I had any of this bottle, but with the sad passing of the maestro seems like as good of time as any to pour one out. Saludos Don Aquilino.
Soft white flowers on the nose (Agave americana what?), and crisp baked yellow pears on the pallet. A bit of winter spice rolled within. A bottle well oxidized, where the alcohol certainly hovers over the top, taking away from it all a bit. I don’t believe this was the case when the bottle was first opened, simply due to bottle development. Solid example of Sierra Negra.
Lote 0030218.
Not overly impressive, but for the price I’ve had worse things sitting on my tongue. The category lacks on the whole, so perhaps good things are yet to come?
I wanted to like this, because it sounded fun and weird.
But then I tried it, and it was certainly weird and not too fun.
