Lot RD-54, 45%

I’m a fan. Great blend. More bourbon, tobacco, fresh mint. A great, reasonably priced finish. Lacks some subtlety but a nice sip for sure.

Lot D5013-C, 359/866, 48.5%

As hinted in another review I think all my reviews will be quite positive this evening as this is a sweet sampler. Especially next to a couple espadins, this one sparkles. Botanical gardens nose. Chile, cucumber, and roses into a cool smoke.

Lot J-10–E-21

Another nice one from Vago. Tasting this one in a flight against the emigdio jarquin espadin, also Vago, then the Rey campero cuishe, closing with Madre mezcal’s espadin and cuishe ensemble. I highly recommend it. I can’t remember how I rated the other vago but this one is a leg up. Exceptionally smooth at 50.7, has a bourbon sweetness to it. Broad texture, leather fade.

Lot 02, bottle 554/933

Nothing wrong with this one as it is a very nice sip actually. Just nothing that particularly stands out either. Balanced nose, earthy, smooth at 46.7%. Rides nicely on the palate until the next sip. I’ll keep tasting this one and it may have a perfect place within a flight.

Lot 23, 48.51%

This one gets four stars for power. Subtle nose, explosion of texture, sweetness, really is like you are tasting the plant. Delicious.

Lot D5019-17, 509/573

Nothing wrong with this one, smoke on the nose translates nicely into a mellow sip, aloe, sweet tea, fades nicely but does not have fluidity I’d give 4 stars. I’ll re-taste as this is definitely a nice sip overall.

Lot 11, 1559/3600, 44.7%

Unremarkable nose but drinks smooth with hints of vanilla and pinon which spread nice and fade broadly. A solid sip which drinks easily.

Lot: (it’s blank)

Nose of fresh cut grass, mint. Trout actually on the take. Kind of like when you take a trout fillet and cook it over a fire wrapped in tinfoil with lemon, salt and pepper, some bell peppers and potatoes. This is quite nice at 45.99. Another example of why it’s not common to find a bottle over 100 that’s worth two finds at 50. I am happy to sip this one.

Just re-tasted the Chihuahua, and this Durango is far superior. I’d highly recommend grabbing a bottle of this if you see it. Extra half star for the bargain.

Robust nose, like smelling a fresh marker. Matches up with the sip, anise, banana, sweet. Went a bit beyond my normal range today. Tasted this at 104.99 but it didn’t pack the same complexity as the others. I’d give it 4 stars at a lower price point.

Lot AE-XXSBC, 237/450, 46%

Uninteresting nose. Amazing surprise on the palate. Anise and peppermint, balance with smoke, floral and earthy undertones is remarkable. Smooth. At 46% you want a full mouthful. Paid 119.99 but this bottle is worth it. I have not tasted enough to give 5 stars but this is as close as I’ve gotten.

Lot DS001-ECT, 1280/1858
Sept 2017

Robust nose, green olives, transfers broadly with 51.5 heat and fades smoothly. I’ll keep trying this one. Quite a nice sipper. For the price I paid (104.99) it gets 4 stars. I’ve had better for less but it’s a nice piece if price was immaterial.

Lote 114, 48.51%, evidently distilled with a bunch of fruit.

Quite unique, vanilla, pine, reminds me of New Mexico. Nose is complex. I give this 4.5 because the flavor is so unique, with the pine tempered by the sweet vanilla. This one will work great in a flight with a couple other Lunas.

Lot 50, 48.51%

This is good, balanced smoke and pine. Mellows evenly with nice heat that is complemented by the pine overtones. I’m sipping this one next to the espadincillo, which I favor. But this is quite nice and I might have gone to 4.5 if I had tasted it alone.

Lote 48, 357/1750, 44.6%

Not my favorite at first. Chile dominant but fades evenly. I like the chile touch normally so that’s not a knock. I just can’t place its oddness; I may have to find a way to fit it into a flight to get past it. Luckily, at $44.99 it did not break the bank. I will come back to it. Would probably give it a 2.5 except that it’s weird so I give it a 3 for effort.

Lot 66. I was prepared to be disappointed, but I am having a lucky day so far. Quite solid. Not the kind of complexity which warrants high prices, but it’s reasonable at $45.99. Jury might still be out.

Full 4 stars no question. Lot 057. Spreads evenly across the palate and fades before returning for an encore that lasts. Presumably, if you like mezcal, you will like it very much. Eminently smooth at 50%. I’d purchase another of this one if I saw it.

Lot 00122. Before I got to the store, even as I pulled into the parking lot ostensibly to search for other wares, I had convinced myself that my initial attraction to this bottle was superficial. Perhaps overcome with optimism given my other finds, I erred on the side of adventure and scored this solid flavor. Nothing fancy, and I’d probably not replace it for the price I paid for it —$54.99— but it does deliver a relatively robust punch that settles nicely but does not linger too much. Worth a taste and I’m satisfied with my choice.

This one earns a full 4 stars. I saw this one (Lot TX001, bottle 150) collecting undeserved dust and happily claimed it.

Complexity is thorough from start to finish, thus leaving a pleasing taste right until the next one shortly thereafter. This was the last bottle at the store but I’ll keep my eye out for it elsewhere. Tremendous and worth the $86.99 plus tax.

Lot: S5019-J
Bottle: 21/871
Oct 2020 production

This one has the complexity you seek. Smooth at 48.6, it spreads nicely on the tongue. I have it a 4 but it’s one of the better tastes I’ve had. For the price I can’t go higher but if this bottle was more affordable I’d give it a 4.5. I’ll keep this one for company but sneak in some solo tastes too.

Don Valente
Lot SAM005/19
Bot 791/2052

Nothing too remarkable about this one but that’s not bad. Good sipper with nice balance of fruit and smoke. But not much complexity. I’d probably not replace this bottle though I’ll keep mixing it into my tastes to see if I change my mind.