Pierde Almas +9 Botanicals

I agree with Rakhal that it does not quite taste of gin, but the juniper is certainly there. Star anise and epazote are my main botanical impressions, especially on the nose. That said, epazote is hardly a gin ingredient and is probably not included in the mix…

It is a bit like drinking an absinthe, but there is also a lot of viscosity and umami notes – shiitake mushroom or something, like a vegan pechuga… I also get mint and lemon verbena. The only thing between this bottle and perfection, is perhaps that the anise dominates the show just a touch. Anyway, I’d echo Jonny: It is difficult to know what to measure this up against, but it is really complex and great in its own right.

Johnathan Barbieri, Distiller
Bottle 568 of 1671
Lote: 17-BOT
45%

Nose: super bright botanical scent. Immediately, I’m getting juniper and star anise. It’s a permeating smell. I poured 1oz and sit it on my bedside table and could smell it from the other side of my queen bed. Second smell I get the note of coriander, fennel seed, and nutmeg. The mezcal is underneath the botanicals, as it is the base. I get a vegetal smell, like a green pepper or mint. It’s obviously very herbaceous. Smells sweet.

Taste: I can definitely see how this could be a sipping gin. I’ve never sipped gin before, as I’ve only used it in some cocktails. I find this very pleasant. The 45% hits your tongue in a pleasant wave as you savor the botanicals with the espadín base. I find it to be overwhelmingly juniper forward but with some spice and citrus underneath to help balance it out.

My go to gin cocktails are an aviation and a gimlet, I think this would excel there. I’ve never had a Negroni but I’d be interested to try one traditional style and one with this pierde almas +9 botanicals to be able to compare/contrast. Very delicious as a sipping gin though. I could see this being used as an aperitif or digestif truly. Depends on the meal.

I bought this because I was so intrigued by a gin and mezcal combo and for the $80 USD I paid, I feel that it was worth it.

Lot 06-BOT. It’s kind of tough to rate this mezcal in any traditional fashion. The botanicals that are added during distillation really take over the flavor and aroma. I’m giving it four stars because it’s better than the only other agave distillate I’ve had that uses this style of gin botanicals. The other one is the Gracias a Dios Mezcal Gin. The aromas of this Pierde Almas are very similar to gin, with strong juniper and pine notes. The taste, however, is quite different from gin. There are still strong notes of juniper and lots of mint, but the rich taste of cooked agave seeps into every sip. If you’re in the mood to drink mezcal, this might not be the best choice, but it may be a good fit if you’re looking to try something creative and unique that’s made with agave.