Lot CAS-T 13-02-2019. Smells like a funky Rhum agricole, Olive brine and boiled grass. Tastes like canned corn, and olive brine and boiled grass. This is unique and definitely worth trying, it was a big hit with other people in the tasting but not my favorite.
Lot 18. When I lived for a couple of months in Merida I found out about how the city was surrounded by Haciendas built with the riches made from harvesting Henequin Agave for fiber. I assumed that someone was making Mezcal out of it, so I embarked on a long ultimately fruitless search for it. All I found was one company making a boring tequila like product and a lot of ultra sweet licors. Anyways, thanks to Erstwhile I was finally able to try it in an artisanal Mezcal. It’s good!! Really aromatic and woody. Oak, Marzipan, Amaretto, Dr. Pepper, dry dirt, tarragon, wet leaves. There is so much of this agave in the Yucatán just begging to be harvested for Mezcal, I really hope I see more of this.
Lot 6. Cherry jam! Big black cherry notes with this batch, also very floral. The other reviewer nailed it with the honeysuckle note. Also asparagus, gunpowder, and white pepper. Very nice.
Lot 5. I like this a lot. Old leather, bell pepper, burnt orange peel, curry paste, menthol, palm sugar, Sumo mandarins, shrimp paste, fish sauce. Very umami, I’ll be looking out for this batch.
BCX01-19. Very unusual, not like any Miahuatlán Bicuixe I’ve had before. Earthy and bready. Rye bread, carraway seeds, tarragon, anise, marzipan, and garden soil. If I find a bottle I will buy it because it’s so unique.
Lot 6. I had really low expectations after reading the reviews but Lot 3 is very good! Oatmeal cookies, french vanilla, lavender, violet liqueur, and fresh cream. This is almost a five star for me considering the price.
Lot 26. Judging by the reviews this Mezcal varies quite a bit depending on the batch. Lot 26 is stellar! Deep dark sweet and rich. Brown sugar, maple syrup, butterscotch, and medjool dates. Delicious!! For $50 you’d be hard pressed to do better.
Lot 2. Vanilla beans, pineapple, cinnamon, fresh tarragon, fresh basil, peppermint, adobe clay. Clean and fresh.
Lot 1. My initial impression was that this is the Mezcal version of Fernet the famous herbal liqueur. Anise and thyme and a million other herbs, but then I read the other reviews and they were right. As well as Fernet there’s Pink lemonade! The one they serve at In’N’Out burger. Orange soda! Cotton candy! I like this because it’s unique and interesting.
Lot 3. I love this!! What Jonny said about the palate was exactly my first impression, big and rich and full!! Roast agave, brown butter, walnuts, pine, raspberries, red starburst candy, anise, green bell pepper, roses, incense, and menthol cigarettes. Excellent!
One ounce sample with no batch number. The first Rey Campero Jabali I ever had I loved, but the last three batches I have tried were dissapointing. This clay distillation however is not at all disappointing, in fact it’s quite good. Green olive brine, garden soil, burnt caramel, fresh leather, allspice. I was still noticing new flavors when my sample ran out, I will keep my eye out for a bottle of this.
One ounce sample with no batch number. This reminded me of Charanda Mexican Rum, grassy and boozy, 80% dark chocolate that toed the line of being too bitter but pulled it off, black pepper, fig newtons, and unfortunately a bit of nail polish remover that kept it from scoring higher for me. Good Mezcal though.
2018 Edition 13.
Starts with caramel then big raspberry flavor, the finish is baking spices and something slightly vegetal like alfalfa. This whole series is some of the best value Mezcal available in the US.
One of my all time favorites from Lalo. It gives the impression of great complexity but is so well balanced that it is difficult to separate individual tasting notes. I taste tarragon, anise , incense, and sandalwood, but beyond that I just taste this deep rich amazing savory singular creation. A work of art.
After several tastings I now get this umami flavor that reminds me of fresh anchovies! I need a bigger bottle!!
Vanilla bean ice cream with 70% dark chocolate chips, plumeria flower, strawberry jam, menthol, peppermint, pine needles. Tasty.
Birthday cake, white pepper, oak, and tobacco. Another winner from NETA.
Lot A-01-EL-20. All good Mezcal is different with every batch, but I’ve especially seen that with Elote. Some batches I can taste the roast corn, some are just hot ass nail polish remover, and most are somewhere in between. This one was all caramel candy, pineapple, and vanilla. Delicious!
Lot E-07-E-20. Emigdio has always been my favorite of the Vago producers. Tastes like Miahuatlán, is it the water?!?! Graham crackers, pound cake, pears in syrup, tahini, and white pepper. Kick ass Espadin!
Lot J-12-E-19. Candy corns, wet dog, spearmint, vanilla, gun metal. A pretty good Espadin but my least favorite of the tasting.
Whoa!! I instantly love this! Flowers and wet soil and incense and sandalwood!! An old musty library with faded leather chairs. Rolling tobacco. Next time I’m at In Situ I’m trying everything from this Mezcalero!
