Del Maguey Minero

50% abv, batch SCM-212

Review #169: The nose has chocolate, coffee grounds, earth, clay, caramel, vanilla, almond butter, mushroom, and mulch.
The palate has chocolate, clay, coffee, earth, caramel, almond butter, mushroom, and rubber.

This was a rather savory espadin. I like the flavors but they all blend together a bit. The clay gives it a nice mouthfeel but also doesn’t help with the lack of complexity. All around good but just missing things that I would enjoy more in it.

Lot: SCM-192; 100 Proof (which I like).

Initial opening and first on-the-nose-pour: slight acetone, followed by more acetone after a second or two, then slowly building and mixing onward together with a slight smoke scent…

When I dabbed a finger dip between my wrists (Yes, I dab onto my inside wrists, smack my wrists together a few times, and sniff), I could not help but to recognize a similar smell when testing a Le Labo Calogne (not too long ago). It didn’t come to me right away, but when it did, I distinctly smelled their ROSE 31 (not exactly the same smell, but more like a very close first cousin smell-alike); the scent lasted 3-4 minutes and then faded.

Ten second swish, swirl, and swallow was a little hot; maybe even spicy…

Second on-the-nose sniff: lighter acetone, mixed with some floral wood smell (again, similar to Le Labo ROSE 31), but I had to focus and fish for it…

First big Kiss (sip): a touch of sweet/mineral, and then smoothness followed by a nice stretch of heat for 10/15 seconds, with a touch of smoke – maybe…

Second Kiss: hmmmm, “do I like or really, really like this?”, were the thoughts… And, is it really an Espadin???? I even re-read the bottle to make sure…

No third sniff, just a finisher kiss: good and smooth; it opened up! Still had heat that lingered, but some sweetness came through… Maybe a touch of a Medjool Date like sweetness, but not lasting, nor nearly as sweet, and some light smoke, but, again, only if I listened carefully for it, as it whisked down into the abyss of my belly…

Moreover, this is a Homerun, for an Espadin, and it is a great sipper; the softness of the clay shines through here, and I am left wondering if that is simply the magic here. I would not want to MIX this with anything other than the glass I would be pouring it into and drinking from. I was excited to read from another reviewer that this might be a light introduction or something comparable (yet not as good) to their Chichicapa; which of course means I need to try that soon and compare… FWIW and for my own satisfaction, I would like to taste test this against my Real Minero Espadin, within a few weeks time and might add anything notable if and when I do… Otherwise, that’s a moot point.

On the down side: I deducted one star based on the $70 price tag… At $60-$63 or under, this would be a staple in my small collection; however, I am feeling that it just might be best to jump up to their chichicapa instead. But, don’t get me wrong: for a 100 proof Espadin, this is smooth and in a class above the rest. But, at $70… I’d stick with a $40 one liter of El Buho instead… Sure, maybe El Buho is a drop hotter and not as smooth… But, again, the cost keeps it from being a grand slam. I’d prefer to pay a drop extra for a grand slam (maybe the chichicapa; if it’s reasonably available and not a million bucks), rather than just a single run homerun. Why settle?

Strange experience at first with unexpected aromas on the nose. A bit minerality but in the same way a young white Riesling white wine springs to life a few seconds after opening; it smells a bit herbal and chalky, with a hint of some undeveloped fruit. Onthe palate it is nearly creamy, smoke and alcohol are prominent but well integrated. It takes a couple of seconds in the mouth before the agave reveals itself. Medium aftertaste. Solid and faultless, perhaps lacking a bit complexity but feels sturdy and like something you can revisit over several years.

Del Maguey Joven Mezcal Minero / 98 proof
Hand milled, clay pot still. Hint of vanilla, heavy smoke and some agave. This was my second foray into a clay pot distilled mezcal. (Don’t ask about the first one I tried!) I’m not sure of the influence from the clay pot – did not detect anything in the nose or taste that I could tie to the clay pot. Nevertheless, this is a very good unique sipping mezcal. (Lot SCM-128)

Edit 2020 – Updating my rating as it is now my favorite Del Maguey mezcal. Only nit is for a Espadin mezcal it seems a bit expensive.

Lot SCM 113. Found an old wax-top bottle of this and absolutely had to buy it. I buy all Del Maguey that I find with a wax top. The bottles look better and the mezcal has that additional age from being on the shelf so long. This one from 2011 is awesome! The age has done it well as I like it a lot more than some of the newer batches I’ve tasted. I’m really enjoying this a lot. If you like clay pot distilled mezcal, this is a must. It’s beautifully balanced. Aromas of wet clay and fermented herbs. The body has incredible finesse with notes of charcoal, fresh lime, and lemon zest. This is a really nice clay mezcal.

The Minero is one of the classic Del Maguey mezcals. It’s very tasty and reminds me a bit of their Chichicapa offering, except it has more of a straightforward “smoke” on the nose and palate. There is a hint of leathery caramel while sipping and it finishes with a bit of a bite. The Minero definitely stands out in the espadin category. It’s one I’d recommend to mezcal newbies who enjoy bourbon. One interesting note is that this was distilled in clay, however I get much of a clay taste here. Batch 12-8.