Lot 2. I was told it has venison and laurel leaf during the final distillation.
This was a total surprise, I expected the agave and sotol to battle or confuse one another, instead was treated to a very easy merriment. The game notes from the deer meat was super pleasant and complimented again by the laurel leaf. A very relaxing and refined spirit that will have me searching out a bottle.
Jabali is a Familia Sanchez world and we are just living in it. Easily the best Agave convallis out there from all that I’ve tried. Recently learned it was the first certified in Mexico and the first imported into the U.S. Not at all surprised.
Amazing how delightfully sweet it comes off – laffy taffy/fruit roll up style – yet has herbal and earth tones that touch you back down to Mother Earth. Hard to put the bottle down, but then again why would you?
Absolutely sublime. Not much more you can say really.
Yet, one of the best spirits I’ve been luck enough to try. A rolling wide and sweet palate that has some type of Sìchuān flavor nestled within. Bought it online and have worriedly tried finding another bottle or two but to no avail.
Somehow this one snuck by me and I had no idea it was available in my area! Quickly remedied this issue, as I am a big fan of well made Puntas mezcal and this one did not disappoint at all. I’ve had lots of mezcal (hit and miss) from this area but nothing from this maestro that I can remember but will make sure to check out future releases.
The only issue I’ve found (this is very pretty – with notes of star fruit, yam and yellow daffodil) is that the ABV (59.10%) is masked somehow and it slides down like something way less boozy. Half the bottle already gone.
Amazing juice!
I was poured this as a blind without any context. It smelled quite nice and I expected something from it, but then slipped it past the lips and was all together let down. Didn’t at all carry any of the aroma that the nose lead me to believe it to be. Tried it again and noticed some defects in the distillation perhaps, I was sorting in my brain why I was poured this at all, it tasted like a weak/unorganized effort.
Finding out it was Agave marmorata I was even more confused, not really a hint of that…one of my favorite agaves. Would have guessed it to be 42% ABV.
Then I was shown the bottle and scratched my head one last time. I have heard a few good things about the liquids from the brand 5 Sentidos, never have had any…and saw it was a private pick from an online group. I am curious why, as all together I’d not find anything special about this bottle.
This was given to me as a gift, excitedly. We sat down together and tried it and both were quite turned off. There was a complete lack of balance and the 3oz or so was tough to drink in a way that is like chewing in raw fiber. Then he told me the price…
Not exactly the same batch as described above…
Emilio Vieyra
100% Cupreata
Pino Bonito, Michoacán
600 litersA really sharp, seemingly closed nose. Maybe can small the pine top on the filipino still?
Warm and giving on the palate. Honeysuckle, sandstone and nearly an alpine schnapps quality.A very delicious and unique example of Cupreata from Michoacán.
Pretty gross.
Take something already bad, throw some oak aging on it to try and buff it up, comes out mutant and still..well, guess what?
Gross.
Disgusting.
Fancy lookin’ bottle you got there sir.
Tastes like bad gin.
Fourth and final pour.
In hindsight was very glad I was poured this last. Different maestro & palenque from before and twice distilled in copper. They told me that it was due to elevation and temperature, which drew me to the pour in great interest. The amount of Tepextate slathered across the canvas was impressive, and I was so impressed how deep and heavy the spirit was otherwise (since it’s sat in glass since 2016) doesn’t seem like it’s lost a thing. Worldly spirit this, BRAVO!
Third tipple.
Was perhaps a little too excited to try this. Over time have tasted a great many Cucharillo, and haven’t had a steady streak of Dasylirion from Oaxaca that have impressed. This stood out immediately and had not only a unmistakeable aroma which brought about visions of soil and struggle, but flavor on the tongue that didn’t disappoint at all. Multi-flavor combination that took a good while to unpack. I’ll be going for a bottle of this soon, especially seeing the production was only 150 liters. Amazing.
Second cup.
Always neat trying a production from a father and then a son, or vice-versa.
Again, a rising aroma like not many mezcales I’ve sipped as of late. A bit more sharpness here on the nose, perhaps the Agave americana. Incredibly layered and flavorful on the palate. I resisted gulping for a moment to enjoy. Lovely fullness again and this is a great example of why these two are so famous for their work.
Yesterday was poured a flight of four of this line, which I’ve been eagerly awaiting to appear stateside, being somewhat familiar with the work Marco Ochoa has done previously.
Here the delicious aroma jumped out of the vaso veladora immediately and surprisingly. Very full on the nose, lots and lots going on. Was almost nervous to take a first sip and was yet rewarded with something that matched perfectly. Warm wet chili notes and some dark brown mole stuff that reminded me of a tasty ice cream I’ve never had.
Terrific mouthfeel where the refrescadera deserves a hat tip. Fantastic.
Nearly forgot what I was doing and thought this I was putting into my mouth was some sort of aperitif. Super light on nose and also palate, there was an extreme canela quality that reminded me lots of a gulp I’ve had from Miahuatlán once before. While lacking body, the finish was nice – seemed a bit more than 48.50% with how quickly it cleaned up.
I received a small vessel with-out a label and was really pleasantly surprised to pour out and sip what was inside. Then I learned it was Rey Campero Espadin! I’ve had this mezcal a great many times and yet would never have figured it was the same. Turns out its this certain batch, “029-E” is quite special and I’ve since collected several bottles. Generally wouldn’t weight a price point into a rating but find this impossible to resist.
It first tasted like a very, very good potatorum…not to knock the nobile angustifolia. Winter warmer.
Nearly everything about this is offensive. The opaque bottle is actually somewhat clever, as I feel if you could actually see the liquid it would be staring back at you with both of it’s middle fingers up and a ugly grin…”Just robbed you, gringo”.
I hated this the first time, the second time…and no, there wasn’t a third.
Sub anything mass produced and garbage. Doesn’t remind me of anything vaguely nice of any quality which I like about mezcal.
Wish I could give it a few negative stars.
No. 20J. March 2018. 696 bottles.
Hard to hate on Arroqueño but I was hoping for so much more! Some nice nuance but then it gets all too tailsy and the finish is cheap.
Somewhat disjointed this one, lots of smoke over the top and then a dime bag of flavor in behind. Not the worst mezcal I’ve ever had, but I wouldn’t search this one out.
