BATCH: WHK-044, 40%, 200ml

Nose – Clean, sweet, and tangy; tropical. Pine, cleaning liquid, dish soap, pineapple, grass, honey, and some funk, like sweet cheese.

Palate – Vegetal and earthy. Cucumber water, celery stalks, mild ginger, grapefruit, and something sweet and woody, like a touch of maple syrup.

Finish – The overall tanginess of the palate fades out rather nicely. Very mellow. Watered down ginger ale, or citrus flavored mineral water.

Fairly enjoyable, but I’m dubious about its 40% abv. This leans sweet and has some interesting flavors, thus it’s easy to drink. However I wouldn’t call this is an ‘authentic’ Mezcal experience.

00123, 47%, 200ml

Nose – Grassy and vegetal; pretty fresh. Like the produce section at the market, some subtle fish sauce, gasoline, barbecue sauce, and some wet dirt. Very intoxicating!

Palate – Punchy and peppery; white pepper, ginger, mint, vanilla, cinnamon, pencil shavings. This is spicy but surprisingly refreshing – expect a bit of heat to it, which I’ve noticed in all my Bozal tastings so far.

Finish – An earthy, bittersweetness; mushrooms, grapefruit, and mild Serrano pepper.

Very nice, I like it. It has a unique flavor, probably due to the Mexicano. So if you’re a fan of that Maguey be sure to give this a taste. I’d say this is a good mid-range sipper given its widespread availability. The first sips were hot! I suspect some time in the bottle will really help bring this out. The 200-sized bottles look really cool.

RD-80, 45%, 200ml

Nose – Light, mellow, and tangy. Gluestick, cinnamon, barbecue sauce, a bit of cheese, and something citrusy to round it out.

Palate – Spicy and bittersweet. Smoky tobacco, cacao nibs, super-dark chocolate, black pepper, and an overall gingery taste to it.

Finish – Smoky and savory; Black Forest ham.

It’s okay, but I didn’t really enjoy it. Leans savory. I love the look of the bottle though.

LOT NO. GB007, 44%, 50ml

Nose – A bit sweeter and mellower than your standard Espadin; fresh cut grass, acetone, some gasoline, vinyl, rubber, tobacco, and wet asphalt.

Palate – Sugary. A deep sweetness, like cough syrup. Notes of ripe grapes, ginger, and something sweet and nutty, like yogurt coated almonds. There’s a grassy tinge somewhere in there too, which I assume is the Damiana; think wheatgrass shots.

Finish – Sugar water, or flat Diet Coke. Plus with every sip there’s a strong alcohol taste on the backend as it goes down; like watered down Jack n’ Coke.

Interesting. It leans more pleasant than it does unpleasant. Definitely tastes like a fabricated sweetness; like Tequila with additives. It’s no more enjoyable than any other low-end Espadin. But there is a noticeable alcohol taste – agree on attributing a ‘medicinal’ flavor to this. I didn’t hate it, but I would not try again.

Minus a star for the capitalistic, trendy exploitation of something so culturally intimate to those who have been distilling and enjoying Mezcal for generations.

BATCH TBX-3 2021, 48%, BOTTLE 40, 200ml

Nose – Sweet and dirty. Cinnamon, brown sugar, wet asphalt, and tamarind.

Palate – Deep, rich, and punchy. Red Hots, grapes, cough syrup.

Finish – Bittersweet and nutty; tamarind and peanut shells.

Great expression of a Tobala. Salvadores always offers well-done and straightforward Mezcal. This batch is no different.

LOT E-11-MMC-20 May 2020, 50.8%, 441 Liters
62% Mexicano, 38% Madrecuixe

Nose – Sweet nature. Fresh cut grass, morning dew, spring garden, wet earth, honey, and pine.

Palate – Perfection. Vibrant but mellow. An easy to drink citrusy sweetness. Ripe oranges, mandarins, Cuties, bubblegum.

Finish – It’s like if you had a slice of the ripest and sweetest orange you’ve ever had and now you’re down to the rind with a lingering bittersweet taste. Plus a little savoriness and smoke to remind you this is a Mezcal after all; Unagi sauce.

So easy-going and tasty. This immediately left an impression on me and became a memorable Mezcal in all my tastings thus far. I’m sure all of Emigdio’s ensambles are delicious, but this particular combo of Mexicano and Madrecuixe from May 2020 is truly something special. Refined sweetness, citrusy, and easy to digest. Find it, try it, if you can. Another stellar offering from Vago and Emigdio Jarquin. My first 5-star rating. This is the one to convince your friends to like Mezcal.

BATCH MCTEL 22f, 45.8%, 200ml

Nose – Sweet musk; a little funky. Powder perfume, rubber, cinnamon, baby powder, wet wood, glue, American cheese, and acetone.

Palate – Fruity and earthy. This is richly bittersweet, flavorful, and just a touch savory. The initial vibrant opening notes are ginger, mango, brown sugar and some citrus. Which then transforms into cacao, chocolate, wood, and vegetable peel.

Finish – The multi-layered palate fades off into a rich bittersweet tone; dark chocolate sprinkled with sea salt.

As the first sips go down, there is a refreshing sense. It tastes clean and there is hardly any burn or smoke. Everything about this is easy sipping. It’s incredibly smooth and flavorful.

Batch No. IV/2022, 48.4%, 1L

Nose – Sweet and intoxicating. Heavy on the permanent marker. Then some coconut, tobacco, pine, some grass, and definitely rubbing alcohol.

Palate – Tangy, bittersweet, and smoky; rubber, tobacco, tamarind, and some mild ginger.

Finish – This is heavy on the charred and smoke notes as some of the tang fades out; burnt bbq ends.

Decent Espadin, but not special. Too smoky and one dimensional for my taste. With a 1L you’re definitely getting your bang for your buck. Might be better suited as a mixer rather than a sipper. I can see this 1L being great for parties.

Batch No. IV/2019, Bottle No. 49/290, 46%, 200ml

Nose – Strong, sweet industrial tone that leans fresh; gasoline, wet asphalt, Sharpie marker, ginger, and morning grass.

Palate – Bright opening that has an overall bittersweet body that fades dry. Fruit pith, orange rind, grapefruit. There’s a tangy twist in there as well; ginger, sweet and sour sauce.

Finish – The dryness takes over and gives you a nutty flavor; walnuts, chestnuts, and flavorless gum.

The initial bright opening is a lot of fun, but it doesn’t pay off. Instead it wanes and gives you a dry finish with no punch. It’s obviously good being a Berta, but not special. A decent sipper overall.

Batch No. X/2020, Bottle No. 71/96, 45%, 200ml

Nose – Clean and citrusy; orange, pine, and hobby glue. Some faint natural notes as well; lumber, fresh cut grass, and wet earth.

Palate – Funky, with a faint sweetness. Think wood and cheese with a soft tangy bite. Pineapple, cream cheese, mineral water, and grapefruit. Plus some sweet rubber; like flavorless gum.

Finish – The funk continues and fades out; mild gouda cheese. And some notes with a fresh hit, like mint.

Such a woody and funky profile you’d think this was a reposado. It’s good and possesses a unique flavor, but doesn’t quite leave an impression. Worth trying if you’re a Tobala and Berta fan.

BATCH AXS-02, YEAR 2021, 42%, BOTTLE 77

Nose – Musty and sweet; old wood, damp attic, cinnamon rolls, caramels, and shoe polish.

Palate – Very confectionary; baked goods. Tiramisu, butterscotch, dulce de leche. And a funky, woody component from the barrels is in there as well; oak, cashews, menma (bamboo garnish in ramen).

Finish – Sweet and buttery; buttermilk donuts, caramels. With some faint and subdued wood; shiitake mushrooms.

Good and flavorful. It’s uncommon to find a respectable Mezcal that wants to have fun with itself and offer a barrel aged spirit. Well done for what it is!

A2-09-EL-19, 50.1%, 50ml

Nose – A mellow sweetness, thats a little nutty and somewhat tart. A sweet, cheesy and creamy smell. Leather, pina coladas, coconut cream, musk, milk chocolate, fresh cut grass, and some sweet corn for good measure. This smells wet, damp, and lightly mildewed – in the most complimentary way possible.

Palate – Fantastic. Citrus flavored chewing gum when the flavor is almost gone. A sweet, mellow tone that has some subtleties of savoriness. Sweet corn, green bell peppers, hatch green chiles, cilantro, honey, and grapefruit.

Finish – The send off is mellow and subdued. The notes become bittersweet and a little dry; tobacco, orange rind, brown sugar.

A treat to have the opportunity to be able to sample once in my life, a Mezcal from Aquilino Garcia. Through this particular distillation, his reputation is present in the complexity of flavors that never become abrasive and consistently please the senses in regards to aroma, taste, and feel. Enjoyable through and through.

LOT A-40-EL-21, 50.5%

Nose – Sweet with a tinge of tart and funk. Leather, butter, sweet corn, oranges, sour cream, musk, tamarind, ginger. The sweetness is strong, like a strawberry cream cheese. And a woody and grassy nod in the background, like lumber or fresh cut grass in the early morning.

Palate – Dry and savory; bittersweet. Orange rind, cilantro, sweet corn. A little tangy too, like fresh ginger. A very roasty flavor overall. Charred corn on the cob, brisket, and a tangy bbq sauce slathered all on top.

Finish – A soft, dry, subtle sweetness, like cream corn and orange rind, among notes of barbecue.

Classic Vago offering. Fun to sip on and definitely should be a staple on any home bar. A very unique spirit thats surely to become iconic in due time.

LOT#: YJ07-21, 45%, BOTTLE#: 1222/2000, Wild, 375ml

Nose: Tart and sweet. Ginger, mango, tamarind, cinnamon, raisins. Some nuttiness in there as well; vanilla, cream soda, and coffee grounds. This is like a fall/winter seasonal scent; potpourri, a Michael’s store.

Palate: Sweet, soft, and a bit tart. Cotton candy, coconuts, watermelon, pina colada, caramel, sweet and sour sauce. That fake pink ginger you get at sushi restaurants. Ripe sweet oranges.

Finish: White pepper and a sweet, grassy dryness; cilantro, parsley, and a little bit of tobacco.

So tangy, citrusy and funky; reminds me of a tepeztate/mexicano ensamble. I like this a lot. Very flavorful. It’s a burst of sweet and tart notes all the way through.

BATCH ARTP 06-21 June 2021, 54.8%, 200ml

Nose – Mellow and musty, and a bit sweet. Water fountain water, sour cream, orange oil, bbq sauce, dried chocolate residue, and tamarind.

Palate – Strong bittersweet flavor, a bit tangy and savory as well; barbecue sauce, tamarind, ginger. Some vegetal and bitter notes in the middle, like green bell pepper and orange rind.

Finish – So much barbecue from this. Smoked pulled pork, with a tangy sauce.

Good, very flavorful and complex. A lot of savory flavors shining through rich bittersweet notes.

LOT#: YJ05-21, 48%, BOTTLE#: 0623/3000, Wild, 375ml

Nose – Very natural, fresh, and earthy. Wet asphalt, fresh cut grass, peanuts, lumber, and wet dirt.

Palate – Mellow flavor with a hot bite. Vegetal. Mineral water with green bell pepper, and hint of bittersweet citrus, like grapefruit and orange rind. Fairly smoky as well; wet cigarette filter.

Finish – Mellow and dry with a bit of a soft, tangy bittersweetness. Horseradish, broccoli, and like chewing gum when the flavor is all gone.

It’s good, but lacks a punch. Too mellow and savory for my taste, but I can appreciate its wild attributes due to the obvious earthy and vegetal flavors.

LOTE: 36, 46.12%, 200ml

Nose – Sharp and sweet; honey, ginger, Sharpie marker. A vegetal and grassy note in there as well.

Palate – Very subdued; dry and bittersweet, like orange rind. Strong vegetal notes as well; celery stalks, green bell pepper.

Finish – Drier on the backend; rubber bands. A hit of ginger too.

Good but not my flavor. Not sure if it’s because this is my first Cupreata or if I just stumbled into a bad batch, but I wasn’t feeling this. It’s dry and barely bittersweet, and then the flavor hardly fluctuates. Almost as if it’s missing something… lacking in complexity; thin.

LOT CHI-215 2022/05/14, 48%

Nose – More spicy than your typical Espadin; cloves, pina colada, dill pickles, and a hint of citrus. Some funk and cheesiness in there as well; glue, Kraft singles.

Palate – Strong tangy flavor; tropical. Hawaiian barbecue, bananas, tamarind, pineapple, allspice.

Finish – It becomes bittersweet and dries out; grapefruit, orange rind.

Classic Del Maguey, classic Mezcal; this is always a staple. Elevate your cocktails, or simply a good all-rounder to sip on. Perfect for anyone at the surface level of Mezcal.

LOT SLR-181, 47%

Nose – Very clean; cleaning liquid. Pine, orange, coconut, glue.

Palate – Strong bright flavor, high in intensity. It’s tangy; Cuties (mandarins), pineapple, sugar cane.

Finish – A little drier and savory. Tobacco, some bbq, and a bit of honey-baked ham.

Very good and tasty; quite enjoyable. This is one of DM’s classic offerings; being always readily available makes it a great everyday or party sipper.

LOT 59, 4028/8280, 40%, 200ml

Nose – Like walking into a dollar store; caramels, vanilla extract, incense, oranges, glue, and dry-erase markers.

Palate – Sugar water: sweet liquid with a taste that is very soft and faint. An underwhelming watery and ‘clean-like’ taste. Some notes of citrus in there as well. Think Orange LaCroix.

Finish – Mellow finish, like rose water.

Easy to drink, but hardly memorable. It feels and tastes fabricated. You lose all of the earthiness and minerality thats makes Mezcal a taste of the Earth.