We don’t drink much tequila. Most tequila on the US market is mass-produced and over-industrialized, which is a major a turnoff. While almost all tequila distilleries have seemingly lost their way with the use of diffusers and other chemical additives, there’s still a very small handful of producers that are making tequila the traditional way. […]
Continue reading
Our first contact with Caballito Cerrero came several years ago, at our annual Mezcal Reviews Party. The celebration marks the anniversary of the launching the Mezcal Reviews website, and it coincides nicely with Mexican Independence day in September. We typically have 6-8 pre-selected flights, on which we gather feedback, and there are usually another 15-20 […]
Continue reading
Texas is the second largest state in the United States of America. The state has the longest stretch of border with Mexico. The entire borderline is demarcated by a river, the Rio Grande, and borders four Mexican states: Tamaulipas, Nuevo León, Chihuahua, and Coahuila. Thousands of families share relatives on both sides of the border. […]
Continue reading
This post was originally published in December 2016 and has been updated There is a lot of mezcal in Austin, Texas. Whether you’re looking to have a mezcal Paloma, or you’re trying to get totally smoked (pun intended) on straight mezcal, Austin has options for you. It’s the perfect city for mezcal. People here are […]
Continue reading
For many mezcal fans, Asis Cortés is their first introduction to Oaxaca, and an original glimpse at Oaxacan culture and life. He’s travelled the globe, bringing Casa Cortés brands like El Jolgorio and Nuestra Soledad to the Acropolis of Athens, to the Mr. Purple Rooftop Lounge in NYC, and beyond. We first met Asis at […]
Continue reading
This is a guest blog post from our friend Alvin Starkman, M.A., J.D. One distills ancestral mezcal, while the other makes the more traditional artesanal (artisanal) spirit. They live and work in different districts of the state of Oaxaca, and their generational backgrounds, personalities and lifestyles are rather different. But a common thread which binds […]
Continue reading
This is a guest blog post from our friend Alvin Starkman, M.A., J.D. Within the first couple of hours of leading a Oaxacan mezcal educational tour, two of the most commonly asked questions are, “what’s the difference between a mezcal ensamble, a mezcla and a blend,” and, “why do the palenqueros do mixes in the […]
Continue reading
We started Mezcal Reviews in 2016 as a way to “connect the dots” between mezcals. As more mezcals arrived on US shelves each day, it became difficult to keep up (it still is). The goal was to make it easy to see the connections between different mezcaleros and brands. The website was also a way […]
Continue reading
No doubt you are spending more time at home right now if you live in the United States. The pandemic affects daily life and mezcal consumption is at an all-time high (as far as we can tell!). Our group of mezcal friends have been organizing mezcal tastings over Zoom and Hangouts these past few months. […]
Continue reading
Mezcal can’t really be the new scotch. Both spirits have been around for ages, and they each have their unique cultures and histories that support them. The way in which consumers are beginning to treat mezcal, however, is more like what it truly is: a world-class spirit that’s worthy of the highest esteem. And what […]
Continue reading
This is a guest blog post from our mezcalerbro Chris Oaxaca is one of the most magical places in the world, with its art, amazing cuisine, good vibes, and most importantly… its mezcal. I’ve been accompanying Jonny and Tyler on the Mezcal Reviews annual trip to Oaxaca since 2017. This is a list of some […]
Continue reading
When you look at a bottle of Viejo Indecente mezcal you will see an eye staring back at you. It is the eye of an old man, staring through a keyhole. The name of this “dirty old man” mezcal was inspired by Charles Bukowski, the writer and poet. Each bottle also comes with a key […]
Continue reading