Nose – Wet tobacco leaf. Gerbera Daisy. Nutrient rich soil.

Palate – Rose water – floral to the nines. Black licorice. A nice, subtle creaminess to it. Finish is greener and more bitter… like a flower stem. I enjoyed the smoke aspect but agree with some of the reviews that it is a “wet smoke” (for a lack of a better term). Overall it’s a very good sipper.

Nose – Floral. Green pepper.

Palate – Serrano level spicy with some of that green pepper. Chalky, drywall note. Heat is up there… damn is this spicy (in a good way but on tetering on a bit too much). It’s strength is the sweet and smoky balance throughout. There’s a theme here but a lasting spiciness (coupled with vanilla sweet) in the finish and aftertaste.

Nose – I don’t get much in the nose maybe a little bit of banana cream.

Palate – A big shot of minty heat to start then it subsides a little to 5 star dessert level sweetness – cheesecake, fresh tropical fruit down to the buttery, crumble base. The smoke comes alive in the finish and compliments the aforementioned sweetness.

I love the palate – it’s a top tobala but the only weakness is that I thought the nose was flat.

Lote: AA008
Nose – Big time whole hazelnuts. Musty. Peanut shells.

Palate – Ok, weird description here, but very anti-septic yet herbal – like a deep cleaned hospital with all natural (green) products. Then a lasting black pepper spiciness in the finish and aftertaste. Again, very herbal the whole ride. I was excited after the nose but the palate didn’t quite come together for me.

Nose – Lemongrass. A tiny bit of bleu cheese.

Palate – Very nice lemon candy sweetness and funky in the first sip. It really grabs your attention. Big flavors all the way to the finish where the quality smoke hits the stage. A note that gets me in the aftertaste is a Panna Cotta dessert. Great stuff!!!!

Nose – Strawberry, soft ice cream sundae.

Palate – Medium viscosity. Dark chocolate mousse note. A pleasant grassiness. Balance on the finish is spot on… optimal heat, welcoming smoke and clay that is locked in for a solid minute of aftertaste.

Nose – Green bell pepper. Sweet cake batter.

Palate – Next level smooth. Ultra soft mouth feel, the texture is something else. Great finish, a nice, quick punchy heat and a tobacco leaf and cake icing aftertaste.

Nose – Fruity Pebbles. Green mini- marshmallows.

Palate – Creamy key lime pie. Spearmint gum. Mandarin orange. Baking chocolate (semi-sweet). Finish is grassy and a tad dry. Overall… good sipping here.

Nose – Light nose, subtle cinnamon roll note.

Palate – Cinnabon sugary awesomeness with a funky, cream cheese topping.

Digging into this 1.5 oz pour in a Morelia mezcalaria, I think I want another.

LOT: D-01-19 Tobasiche
Nose – New kitchen rubber. Sweet bread. Coconut cream.

Palate – Soft and creamy. White pepper heat and tobacco smoke are well balanced. The spicy, sweet and creamy notes remind me of a Thai green coconut curry. The clay really rounds this out. Aftertaste of grilled, salted, buttered corn on the cob and delicious smoke. Solid Lalo!

Nose – Chopped sweet red bell pepper. Lemon drops candy. Cucumber slices.

Palate – Cake icing. Biting into a fresh, green pepper with lingering bits of garden soil. White pepper heat and smoked, well-salted tri tip in the finish. Aftertaste still smoky but has a dry, champagne note.

Pretty solid offering from Mal Bien.

Lot No: ENSPMV2004
Nose – Cherry Loops gummy candy. Geraniums. Very light smoke.

Palate – Rose water. Peppermint heat and a good amount of it for 45% ABV. Smoky, charred bbq teriyaki chicken. Extremely long, perfume finish. A nice aftertaste even a couple minutes later – lingering smoke, cherry gummy, earthy (soil) but a tad bitter.

Lote: DSO77-MC
Nose – Vanilla cake with whipped cream.

Palate – Oily feel on the tongue. Roasted caramel. A quick jump in heat in the middle. Extremely dry in the finish, cedar smoke and a lingering black pepper heat (and a slight burn – it’s a bit hot even for 49%). Really tasty, but again. super dry.

Batch: SBG-T2002US
Nose – Vanilla. Orange citrus. Very espadin-like on the nose. Dryer sheets. Some roasted peanut in there as well.

Palate – Orange blossom. Slightly burnt rice pudding. Fried green tomatoes in oil. Pine needles. A hint of bacon grease. Finish is salty and smoky with a touch of clay.

Lote: DS015-J
Nose – Tropical papaya. Kiwi. Rotisserie chicken.

Palate – Subtle and subdued at first and then BOOM!… flame-grilled chicken lathered in a very smoky, ketjap manis (Indonesian sweet soy sauce). Worn, beaten down leather. Salt & pepper Kettle potato chips. The sweet, smoky and meaty aspect highlights a long finish and warm (semi-hot) aftertaste.

This is a heavyweight punchy mezcal, amazing stuff!

Lote: DS010-C
Nose – Muddy gardening soil. Orange citrus.

Palate – Oreo cookie filling. A tad hot/vapory in the middle. Gonna borrow from Jonny of 5 years ago and tack on the buttery potatoes. A jarred caper salinity. Finish is dry, floral and smoky. A smoky, vanilla aftertaste (an uptick in the sweetness).

Batch: RGO-E2001US
Nose – Grape candy powder. Slight smoky creaminess.

Palate – Sweetness is too dialed back and there is a metallic aspect – it’s like sipping diluted sugar water out of a stainless steel cup. Finish is grassy with a nice white pepper heat and smoky finish.

Lot: l-07T (Bottle: 884/1304)
Nose – Strawberry Nerds candy. Cheesecake tarts.

Palate – A few seconds of clay, Hawaiian Punch (fruit punch) and blueberry topped cheese cake. Then a blast of black pepper and mint heat (slightly hot for 49%) and yummy smoke. This settles down to a long clay and pine finish with a bbq’d chicken with charred, sweet Bullseye.

LOTE X01
Nose – Fresh guava juice. Fine black pepper. Sweet, smoke profile. Small hint of a fragrant dish soap.

Palate – Sweet notes reminds me of an apple pie baked in a wood-fired forno oven. Another note is like eating an apple slice with bites of medium cheddar. White pepper heat in the finish. I wish the ABV was dialed up a bit more – overall it feels a tad diluted.

LOT: L-06E Bottle: 499/1061
Nose – Bubble gum. Fruity. Melted butter and brown sugar used before baking. Soft, well rounded notes here.

Palate – The sweet aspect reminds me of an ice cream sundae topping trio: light whip cream, cherry and crushed walnut. Plain cheese cake. Oak camp fire smoke. To me, this is a softer, clay distilled version of Chichicapa.

I love this Lalo bottle – one of the best espadins out there!