Rezpiral Tobala is a small batch mezcal that is only available in select areas of the US. It is a limited release from mezcalero Aureliano Hernandez.
About this destilado de agave
Rezpiral Tobala is made with maguey Tobala that takes 9-10 years to reach maturity. Mezcalero Aureliano Hernandez crushes his cooked agave with a horse drawn tahona and he double distills his mezcal in a copper alembic still. This mezcal was released in 2018 as part of series three from Rezpiral.
2017, series #1: Eleven different master-crafted spirits by three independent artisan producers of three pueblos; spirits from nine different wild and domesticated agave varietals (espadin, tobala, barril, tobaziche, mexicano, tepextate, tobala orejon, cuish, and tripon).
2018, series #2: Seventeen different master-crafted spirits by five independent artisan producers from four pueblos San Agustin Amatengo, San Baltazar Guelevila, Chichicapam and San Luis Amatlan; spirits from eleven wild and cultivated varietals, and three specialty batches (pechuga de conejo, espadin capon, espadin con frutas).
2018, series #3: A curated collection of eleven agave spirits crafted from four independent artisan maestros collaborating with the project. Labels in this series are hand drawn as before, and individually silk-screened labels, some with multiple colors.
2019, series #4, first release: A hand-selected selection of fifteen beautifully complex artisanal small batch agave spirits – by Abel Martinez of Santo Domingo Albarradas, Berta & Mario Vasquez of San Baltazar Chichicapam, Aureliano Hernandez of San Baltazar Guelevila, Reina Sanchez of San Luis Amatlan, Leonardo of San Baltazar Guelevila, and Simeon & Apolonio Ramirez of San Agustin Amatengo. Labels in this series were printed on a handful of colored fiber papers including amate (shown below presenting Berta’s ensamble).
Rezpiral
Rezpiral brings selections of high-quality traditional small-batch (non-certified) Mezcals into a handful of places in the USA. At the core of the project is the embrace of an ethos that aims to respect and support the multi-generational knowledge, independence, flavors, lands, and ways of each mezcalero family.
Rezpiral’s small scale allows for the advocacy of diversity on different levels, from supporting the autonomy of producers & their continued production of artisanal mezcals to the preservation of local land control. Rezpiral actively supports master artisan’s proactive planting and management of agave; recollecting and incubating seeds, transplanting and farming diverse species of endemic agave in sustainable ways. Rezpiral directs 10% of earnings back into supporting artisans farming.
Rezpiral has a regional greenhouse to support independent small scale mezcaleros in cultivating and reforesting their lands with local endangered wild agave varietals. They also are highly focused on a cultural and conservation residency program.
Review this bottle
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Zack Klamn
542 reviewsNose – Smoky creme soda. Fresh cut 2×4’s. A tidy landry room.
Palate – Thin. Can’t recall having a smokier tobala that this. Peeled apple skin. Bitter and soapy finish. A pretty average tobala, quality wise the nose far exceeds the palate.
Firesidesipper
44 reviewsSeries 2, 2017. Bottle 1/400. Exceptionally smooth with a light character. I had to check the bottle to see that it was 46.2% ABV. No heat and only the slightest trace of smoke. It evolves while sipping, with layers of subtle citrus peel and tropical fruit. Well-made and very nice.
AdamCA
16 reviewsThis was my first bottle from Rezpiral and it’s something of a letdown. It’s a bit thin. No big flavors. It has the earthy sweetness of a tobala, but it’s doesn’t have much other complexity and the earthiness errs on the heavy/bitter side. I tried the drop of water two others recommended, and it does bring a bit more fruity sweetness out, but that just thins it out further, making it even less compelling. It’s fine, but nothing special. I periodically go back to the bottle hoping it’s changed and opened up into something more interesting, but it hasn’t, yet.
This was my first bottle from Rezpiral and it’s something of a letdown. It’s a bit thin. No big flavors. It has the earthy sweetness of a tobala, but it’s doesn’t have much other complexity and the earthiness errs on the heavy/bitter side. I tried the drop of water two others recommended, and it does bring a bit more fruity sweetness out, but that just thins it out further, making it even less compelling. It’s fine, but nothing special. I periodically go back to the
HighWine
78 reviewsSeries 3 2018
Nose: Ash, celery, and sea air
Palate: Medium-bodied but coats the tongue
Taste: Some alcohol burn up front, charred wood, peat moss, and grass. A drop of water really opens this up bringing forward a fruitiness that’s is absent without it.
Jonny
738 reviewsSeries 4. High mineral aromas of creosote, sea salt, and copper mixing with subtle tart fruity notes of green apple and unripe red raspberries. The palate is a bit charred with notes of mezquite, stewed apples, plum, and raw fresh cherries. The beauty of this is in it’s subtle complexity. I don’t get anything big or bodacious on it. It’s right down the middle with a lot of finesse and nuance. I get something different every time I sip it.
COak
238 reviewsSeries 3. I’m enjoying this tobala, it’s a bit tart then gives way to cherry twizzlers, very sweet and bright.
Tyler
668 reviewsThe big notes here are fruit skins. There is a lot of soft fruitiness that begins with a tart note like an apple skin and then turns more sweet into a peach flavor. There is a tiny toffee and copper note in the finish. It is a little punchy at 46% ABV. Series 4 – Distilled in 2013.
BartFargo
21 reviewsAureliano Hernandez Martinez
Series 3, distilled in 2018, 46%
Nose: Tightly wound at first, with salty sea breeze, cracked pepper and cedar smoke. There’s also a meaty undercurrent which reminds me of honey ham. Some citrus zest and orange blossom emerge as it sits, and then the fruits start to build. I pick out dried cranberry, blood orange and canned peach, plus a bit of jalapeno heat.
Palate: Orange creamsicle, peaches, mango and cotton candy – sweet, but softly so. The candy is then tempered by a wave of tart grapefruit, green peppers and a saline minerality. Soft, medium body.
Finish: Pithy citrus and that honey ham again. Then it turns more veggie, with glazed carrots, peas, fennel, soy sauce, and a bit of latex. Light cedar smoke returns late, coating buttery roasted nuts. Medium length.
This one is quite shy to open up, so the candied palate and green finish came as a surprise. Even the smoke on this feels fresh, so there’s plenty of room for the layered sweet tobala profile to flourish.
Aureliano Hernandez Martinez
Series 3, distilled in 2018, 46%
Nose: Tightly wound at first, with salty sea breeze, cracked pepper and cedar smoke. There’s also a meaty undercurrent which reminds me of honey ham. Some citrus zest and orange blossom emerge as it sits, and then the fruits start to build. I pick out dried cranberry, blood orange and canned peach, plus a bit of jalapeno heat.
Palate: Orange creamsicle, peaches, mango and cotton candy – sweet, but softly so. The candy is then
Yggy45
7 reviewsSeries 2, 2017 Rezpiral bottle 65/400, Aureliano Hernandez Martinez
The nose on this is very restrained, some citrus rind and unripe avocado, opens up slightly with some tropical fruit with a drop of water
Cotton candy, guava, mango, steel and some heat on the palate. The flavors are subtle, little to no smoke, and well integrated – I have a hard time pulling one dominant flavor out.