Maguey Melate Tobala w/ Apples from Maria Alicia Alva Sanchez was originally released as the March 2022 Mezcalero of the Month Club agave spirit.
About this mezcal
Maguey Melate Tobala w/ Apples from Maria Alicia Alva Sanchez was originally released as the March 2022 Mezcalero of the Month Club agave spirit. The maguey Tobala used in this mezcal were oversized and greyish in color, likely from some degree of cross-breeding with the Agave cupreata grown nearby. Alicia’s late father, Don Fede, noticed that the Tobala harvested outside of March lacked the sweetness that he liked, so he came up with an apple recipe that helps to balance out the acidity of the Tobala. Don Fede passed on this recipe to only Alicia and her brothers.
Maguey Melate
Maguey Melate was founded on two ideas: 1) Artisanal agave spirits are amazing and should be shared with the world, and 2) The faster-cheaper economy is a harmful force for people, the environment, and now agave spirits.
They believe if mezcal (and agave spirits) can be understood and appreciated at its full potential, people will show their preference for quality artisanal mezcal that is sustainably and fairly sourced. By raising consumer consciousness on the origins of mezcal and educating enthusiasts on matters of quality and character, informed people will be empowered to ensure the future of mezcal. To do this, they’re reaching a large audience with an impactful message: KEEP MEZCAL ARTISANAL!
Maguey Melate is perhaps most well-known for their Mezcalero of the Month Club, which delivers artisanal small-batch agave spirits directly to the doors of consumers in the US and Mexico. In addition to the monthly spirits, they offer exclusive content and interviews with producers. Single releases are also available in the Maguey Melate shop.
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GreenspointTexas
385 reviewsSometimes less is more.
justsomedude
28 reviewsNose: Dry, unctuous, compelling, not a hint of ethanol. There’s apples in there for sure but beneath complex layers of dusty earth, leather and herbs.
Palate: Silky, rich mouthfeel. Dehydrated Macintosh apples. A touch of medicinal herbs and earth. Some cheesy funk?
Finish: Long. A touch oily. More on the medicine and cheese, with a touch of dried apple.
Overall: Unique and complex with great impact and mouth feel. Not sure if I’m a huge fan of the flavor profile. Perhaps it’s just a balance issue. Just shy of 4 stars but I’m rounding up due to complexity and potency.
Nose: Dry, unctuous, compelling, not a hint of ethanol. There’s apples in there for sure but beneath complex layers of dusty earth, leather and herbs.
Palate: Silky, rich mouthfeel. Dehydrated Macintosh apples. A touch of medicinal herbs and earth. Some cheesy funk?
Finish: Long. A touch oily. More on the medicine and cheese, with a touch of dried apple.
Overall: Unique and complex with great impact and mouth feel. Not sure if I’m a huge fan of the flavor profile. Perhaps it’s just a bala
Rakhal
430 reviewsHa!! This is a really interesting Mezcal!! So much going on here! It’s very sweet but also funky and complex. At first I couldn’t taste any apples, but then on the finish there it was! Apple sauce!!! Anyways my tasting notes are Kerns Pear Nectar, Bbq potato chips (nice one Zack!), macadamia nuts, pineapple vinegar, cardboard box, and cinnamon sugar. I like this one a lot, and the love and respect between the mother and daughter in the videos made me tear up almost every time. I can’t wait to try more of their Mezcal!
Ha!! This is a really interesting Mezcal!! So much going on here! It’s very sweet but also funky and complex. At first I couldn’t taste any apples, but then on the finish there it was! Apple sauce!!! Anyways my tasting notes are Kerns Pear Nectar, Bbq potato chips (nice one Zack!), macadamia nuts, pineapple vinegar, cardboard box, and cinnamon sugar. I like this one a lot, and the love and respect between the mother and daughter in the videos made me tear up almost every time. I can’t wai
Zack Klamn
542 reviewsBatch ALI-TOB-001.
Nose – Pureed red apples. Apple peels. Little bit of cinnamon.
Palate – I get some great apple sweetness (and pears) but it’s very balanced with the agave notes. Subtle baking spices. Mesquite potato chips. Cider-like finish and quite dry. A nice bit of vanilla pops up in the aftertaste and lasts. This is very pleasant – I’m a big fan!
tallchad
122 reviewsDon Fede’s daughter and granddaughter are remarkable for carrying on his tradition. ¡Que chingonas! I love his Espadilla/Tobalá. This is good mezcal but I don’t taste any apples! There is some good sweetness added with some heat. Aroma has a slight sour funk to it but overall good. Taste of solid and good with some definite sweetness and medium smoke.
EDIT agosto 2022: I’m calling this the Zack and Rakal BBQ chip challenge—1. Get a bag of quality BBQ chips. I am using Miss Vickie’s Smokehouse BBQ Chips. 2. Think about the unopened bag of chips and drink some of this. 3. Open chips and catch some aroma, then drink some more. 4. Munch a chip and then well….you know.
At which stage did you get the BBQ chips reflected in the mezcal? Or are you like me and you aren’t up to the Zack and Rakhal level of zen master? But I did have fun.
Don Fede’s daughter and granddaughter are remarkable for carrying on his tradition. ¡Que chingonas! I love his Espadilla/Tobalá. This is good mezcal but I don’t taste any apples! There is some good sweetness added with some heat. Aroma has a slight sour funk to it but overall good. Taste of solid and good with some definite sweetness and medium smoke.
EDIT agosto 2022: I’m calling this the Zack and Rakal BBQ chip challenge—1. Get a bag of quality BBQ chips. I am using Miss Vickie�
Manning
24 reviewsNot much on the nose, maybe a hint of granny smith apples. On the taste, it has an interesting dried fruit flavor but pretty one dimensional. I’m not picking up much apple, but I get unripe strawberries with a bunch of sugar. Very sweet mezcal, probably from the apples. It opens up nicely and the fruit flavors meld together better after an hour or so in the glass, so I recommend letting this on open up a bit. Overall 7/10.
El Dawg
235 reviewsALI-TOB-001
Honestly not much apples in this apple tobala. There is a sweeter smell, and some candy sweetness on the taste…I just don’t get the apples. Solid tobala though, and curious to what this would taste like withOUT the apples.
After much air time, I do get some green apples at the end! Love that I found that, but still around 3.5 stars for me.
Jonny
736 reviewsBatch ALI-TOB-001. It makes sense that this would be made with apples to sweeten the flavor profile. Green apple is a common flavor note that I find in Tobala. The nose of this has some hints of those apples, but not a lot. I get more dry herbs like rosemary, sage, and thyme. There’s also a slight medicinal quality to the aromas. The palate has some heavier smoke, some of the sweetness I’d associate with a pear or green apple, and some heat on the back of the palate. There’s also this deeper note that’s almost similar to candle wax. Medium finish.
Batch ALI-TOB-001. It makes sense that this would be made with apples to sweeten the flavor profile. Green apple is a common flavor note that I find in Tobala. The nose of this has some hints of those apples, but not a lot. I get more dry herbs like rosemary, sage, and thyme. There’s also a slight medicinal quality to the aromas. The palate has some heavier smoke, some of the sweetness I’d associate with a pear or green apple, and some heat on the back of the palate. There’s al