Lote: JAENCOS524
I actually do get some cacao on the nose. Some sawdust, dustiness as well.
Taste carries through w/ a stronger version of that smell…which is not my favorite. Clay, bitter coffee, mole spices. Overall a super dry mezcal (if that’s a thing). It got better with some airtime but not my favorite of all the offerings from Creador.
Review #237

Lote: VDP-284
Lovely smell – fruity (strawberry)and light. Taste is not bad at all, just super light. Some floral and more fruit on the notes…but super light. I’m sure this will be great in a cocktail…and I don’t have the OG Vida by me, but this one could be more flavorful & “complex” as well. Agree w/ Jonny that is probably just doesn’t have as much smoke as the original.
Review #236

Lote: SABI016/15
80% Espadin, 20% Bicuise
Don Valente Juarez
Super sweet and creamy Miahuatlan juice. Some mintyness, corn, pink bubblegum. Bit of an ethanol aftertaste. Overall though great bang for your buck!
Review #235

Batch JATM0524
On the nose I get a great mix of both the green, earthy tep notes and that spicy/peppery mexicano. Definitely get the deep, chocolate notes as well.
On the taste do not get much of the tepeztate notes (which is a shame as that’s my favorite agave). Some minty, clean freshness on the finish. Do not get as much of the clay, leather funkiness like on the other bottles from this brand either. Hard to even know this is clay distilled! Really unique offering compared to the rest of Creador’s lineup.
Review #234

Lote: JAMC0524
Nose: light banana with that clay/rawhide note I’ve become familiar with here. Sweet on the taste! This seems to be much more creamy and lactic on the mouthfeel than other varietals from this brand – like frosting or whipped cream with strawberries! One of my favorite from the latest releases! 4.25
Review #234

Lote: JAJA524-1 (Agaves from Sola de Vega)
Smell is super dry (play-doh) and musty. Taste is dry, baking spice, light clay minerality. Not sure this is a great representation of jabali? Overall not too much going on here. 3.5 stars

Lote: JAJA524-2 (Agaves from Chichicapam)
Sweet, sweet tart smell. Similar baking spice notes on the taste. Clay is much better balanced here with a leather/meaty note mixed with some sweet and spicy jabali notes. Much better than -1 lote imo, which is such a fun way to do this tasting. All the difference is the terroir from the agaves! 4 stars.

Lote: ON1/2018 (by Onofre Ortiz)
This has got to be the best ‘bang for your buck’ mezcal I’ve ever had. It was $20…$20! Not sure if it was a sale, excess inventory, etc. But this is Miahuatlan deliciousness (and not refresacadora style either, which is news to me). An overall creamy and lactic taste is dominant. The bicuishe (woody and dry grass) goes so well with the classic buttery, sweet espadin notes. Super clean finish and well proofed. Got to give it a half bump in rating due to this amazing value.
PS: Emilio’s Warehouse in LA has a couple more cases of these. I’m loading up for sure next time I’m down there, so don’t tell too many people! 😉
Review #231

Lote: JAC00524
nose brown sugar, leather, pepper. Some cantaloupe melon.
Taste has more of a subdued clay taste compared to other expressions. To me there is a good duality between the sweetness and savory. I do get some of that classic a. americana notes as well.
Review #230

Lote: JAT00524
Musty leather on the nose. Light burned caramel cream.
More leather, clay, minerality, nuttiness, on the taste with some ‘fizzy sprite’ texture. Only get some of that familiar tobala sweetness though. As mentioned below the earthiness and mustiness on the taste is a bit too much /overpowering on this one for me, and I don’t seem to get many of the great notes I’m used to w/ a tobala (this could easily be a different varietal). The aftertaste is pleasant though and overall this is interesting and wouldn’t be something I normally reach to. 3.25
Review #229

Lote 06-21
Nose has some leather funk, clay minerality, and sweet BBQ sauce (OG Baby Rays).
Taste comes through with more clay and pork BBQ! The 54.8% is on point and delicious. Some earthy notes and corn (like the Vago Elote). Slightly sweet but def one of the more savory mezcals I’ve tried. Other reviews for this batch below are spot on!
Review #228

Nose: Light smell and “stewy”
Overall a bit light. Leather, overripe vegetables. Sweet and light buttery notes. Spearmint. All around not bad and probably one of my favorite bacanoras (I can’t seem to find one I love). Cooking spices and light grass in there as well. Haha, it might be a bit “swampy” though as pointed out below 🙂

April 2023 100 liters 52.2%.
Smell has that cooked greens and bright salmiana notes that seems to be similar w/ all of the expressions from this brand (I love it so not complaining).
Candy, dry, woody…alcohol comes through a bit. Finish lingers really nicely with sweet after flavors (almost like vanilla cake frosting).
Review #226

Notes of pine, licorice, super clean.
Taste has some more spearmint, baking spice, burnt orange. Not your normal sotol that’s for sure! The ABV on this one says 44%, which it def. tastes a bit hotter than that for sure. As TallChad said – candied orange in the desert is pretty spot on! Never would have guessed this was a sotol – very good! 4.25

April 2023, 100 liters, 50.90% abv
Cream, pepper, along with the slight classic salmiana notes (not as fragrant to me as the others from this brand). Taste is similar to other salmianas, but a bit more subtle as well. Light peanuts, clay, minerality, and a bit of smokey BBQ. More like 4.25 stars.
Review #224

Distilled 2023
Smell has some grassy butter notes, sweet and overall has that very distinctive salmiana smell and taste (I am starting to love these salmianas…especially clay distilled)!
Brown sugar, tangy and sweet. Mint, some spice, and overall super flavorful! 52% is very surprising as well (in a good way)
Review #223

Lote: BQ1183
Man, the smell is intense! Reminds me of a tepeztate. Some meaty and jerky notes too. Floral and like potpourri. You can smell this across the room.
Taste isn’t really as good as the smell. Some harsh alcohol in the beginning (seems harsher for a 43% in that regard), but finishes better. Earthy and green pepper notes at the end.
Very unique (is this an Americana subspecies??) but the taste itself docks it a star for me.
Review #222

March 2023, 100 liter
Butterscotch notes all through this one.
Oily, sweet, peppery, and also with some dried banana/fruit notes. Ending has a hot touch, but diminishes quickly. The finish lingers very nicely almost like a sweeter oily coating in the mouth. As mentioned by another review these salmianas def carry a bit more ‘weight’ than the ones I’ve had from Durango (which are also great). Super delightful and I look forward to diving into more mezcal from SLP!
Review: #221

Batch 09
Smell has some deep bubblegum, pine, earth. Dark fruits.
Powerful and full taste – more pine, candy, peppermint. Only complaint may be it seems a bit hot for just 46.8%. Really great alto!
Review #220

Fruity & pungent smell! Reminds me of an alto or raicilla…def. not this Oaxacan mezcal! Sweet and tangy on the taste – like a type of chalky candy. Strawberries, ripe banana, candy corn, and some bbq smoke notes. Very solid and different!

Beautiful smell – fresh flower water, candy sweet tarts.
Notes of butterscotch candy, spice, tropical fruit. For a clay distilled this also has less of that ‘tangyness’ I’ve come to expect, but overall really solid and one of the more enjoyable Espadins I’ve had in while! Agreed with others that this would be highly enjoyable (approachable if you will) for most people.