Pensador Mezcal is produced by Don Atenogenes García in Miahuatlán using 70% maguey Espadin and 30% maguey Madrecuishe.
About this mezcal
Pensador Mezcal is produced by Don Atenogenes García in the Miahuatlán region of Southern Oaxaca. Miahuatlán is drier than other mezcal making regions of Oaxaca and the agave have to work harder to survive by digging their roots down further into the earth to draw up more minerals while focusing their nutrients into their pina. This creates unusual depth and sweetness in the agave. This mezcal is produced using traditional methods with 70% maguey Espadin and 30% maguey Madrecuishe. Both types of agaves are cooked together underground for 5 days and then removed to rest before being crushed by a horse-drawn tahona. The result is naturally fermented with well water and then double-distilled in a 250 liter copper still. Don Garcia only keeps the heart of the distillate and cuts away large portions of the puntas and colas from the distillate.
This mezcal is full of minerality on the nose and palate. There are flavors of green apple, ripe banana, and green pepper, along with vanilla and toffee. The finish is smoky, with tobacco-like notes. Detailed information about each batch can be found on the Pensador blog Pensamientos.
El Camino del Pensador Mezcal
Pensador Mezcal is the creation of Meanwhile Drinks Ltd., a company born in London in 2016. Its roots reach back to the summer of 2002 when two childhood friends shared their first can of Red Stripe. Instantly united by a deep love of booze and a willingness to disappoint parents, it was only a matter of time before Will and Ben entered the drinks industry. Their idea was simple: explore the world, find exceptional craft drinks, and deliver the results directly to your glass. The team released Pensador Mezcal in 2017.
Review this bottle
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El Dawg
237 reviewsLote: ON1/2018 (by Onofre Ortiz)
This has got to be the best ‘bang for your buck’ mezcal I’ve ever had. It was $20…$20! Not sure if it was a sale, excess inventory, etc. But this is Miahuatlan deliciousness (and not refresacadora style either, which is news to me). An overall creamy and lactic taste is dominant. The bicuishe (woody and dry grass) goes so well with the classic buttery, sweet espadin notes. Super clean finish and well proofed. Got to give it a half bump in rating due to this amazing value.
PS: Emilio’s Warehouse in LA has a couple more cases of these. I’m loading up for sure next time I’m down there, so don’t tell too many people! 😉
Review #231
Lote: ON1/2018 (by Onofre Ortiz)
This has got to be the best ‘bang for your buck’ mezcal I’ve ever had. It was $20…$20! Not sure if it was a sale, excess inventory, etc. But this is Miahuatlan deliciousness (and not refresacadora style either, which is news to me). An overall creamy and lactic taste is dominant. The bicuishe (woody and dry grass) goes so well with the classic buttery, sweet espadin notes. Super clean finish and well proofed. Got to give it a half bu
Forpowder
122 reviewsLot OE2/2016 47.5% Sampled on 1/5/2024 aromas out of the bottle are sweet green Agave in and simple alcohol. Wow the flavors are another dimension this is way better than I expected. Beautiful complicated sweet green and brown agave flavors. Excellent alcohol and acetone’s definition To finish it up super clean. Got this bottle as a bonus from Old Town tequila for $5. Can’t believe how good it is. After the bottle aired out for a month it took on some sourness and funkenness.
m8375e
4 reviewsFrom a sample, no batch number.
Nose: whiff of frangipane, vanilla ice cream, cucumber dropped in dirt, pickle juice, grapefruit. Later watermelon, canteloupe and drumstick lollies. Nice nose.
Palate: a little hot at strength and a touch muddled. Very mineral start, chalky, develops on a little citrus, limestone, dusty. Water helps a bit, remains mineral driven and somewhat simple, some flashes of blood orange and grapefruit on the midpalate but remains in the background. Medium finish, on slates.
Comment: well made, a nice nose and nice minerality but found this rather too simple and linear on the palate.
From a sample, no batch number.
Nose: whiff of frangipane, vanilla ice cream, cucumber dropped in dirt, pickle juice, grapefruit. Later watermelon, canteloupe and drumstick lollies. Nice nose.
Palate: a little hot at strength and a touch muddled. Very mineral start, chalky, develops on a little citrus, limestone, dusty. Water helps a bit, remains mineral driven and somewhat simple, some flashes of blood orange and grapefruit on the midpalate but remains in the background. Medium finish, on slate
JJHenderson
10 reviewsProbably the bottle I drink the most of. Doesn’t blow you away with complexity, but super well structured, easy drinking, and keeps bringing you back for another glass. My number one everyday sipper.
Jonny
738 reviewsAromas of fresh green vegetables, Earth, and minerals. Very clean nose. Semi-viscous and balanced palate. Notes of chick peas, sweet salt, vanilla bean, and fresh cut grass. Very clean palate. Very nice.
Tyler
668 reviewsSalty minerals. Dry wood. Sweet apple. Charred lime. Nice minty kick on the finish. Don Garcia makes amazing mezcal. Batch A3 produced in summer 2018.
stepusin
19 reviewsMild and citrusy smell, smooth on the tongue with a peppery flavor but also hints of acetone.
Ravi
5 reviewsBatch: A2/2018, 48% ABV. This is a great mezcal, especially for the price. It’s very clean, smooth and sweet. It very little of the farmyard funk or puntas flavour that some (including me) enjoy and it will therefore appeal to tequila drinkers/ new mezcal drinkers, but is still interesting enough for dedicated mezcal-heads.
Nose: I got mint/menthol, citrus and strong agave flavour up front. After it had been sitting for five minutes, more herbaceous, pepper mineral and leather aroma really came out.
Taste: There is some acidity and lots of agave flavour. It really is remarkably smooth and sweet, with the sweetness developing as it sits in the glass. There are definite peppery spice and mineral flavours in there too, probably from the Madrecuishe. It finishes sweet and smoky, but the smoke is not overpowering.
Don Antogenes is doing good things here! I highly recommend picking up a bottle if you get a chance.
Batch: A2/2018, 48% ABV. This is a great mezcal, especially for the price. It’s very clean, smooth and sweet. It very little of the farmyard funk or puntas flavour that some (including me) enjoy and it will therefore appeal to tequila drinkers/ new mezcal drinkers, but is still interesting enough for dedicated mezcal-heads.
Nose: I got mint/menthol, citrus and strong agave flavour up front. After it had been sitting for five minutes, more herbaceous, pepper mineral and leather aroma real