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Real Minero Barril Mezcal
Distiller Score 96
The natural characteristics of the agave play brilliantly with the flavors of the clay. It is lush with aromas of grass, cucumber, celery, and fresh pear. The palate offers another dimension with smoked meat, ripe plantain, dried papaya, and a deep clay note in the mid-palate. The intensity of this mezcal might catch you off guard but it quickly lulls you with stellar complexity and balance.
Reviewed by Omari Wheat
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OAX Original Tepeztate
Distiller Score 93
Green bell peppers and fresh cracked black peppercorns kick off a nose which also features expressed lemon peel and wafting campfire. The palate is funky, floral, and resinous, with lavender, grapefruit, bitter-herbal epazote, and balsamic glaze. The finish offers tres leches cake, spearmint, spicy jalapeno, and agave syrup. If this is the kind of thing you're into, it's a home run.
Reviewed by Jake Emen
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Real Minero Arroqueño Mezcal
Distiller Score 90
For better or worse, one of the the things about distilling in clay is that you can taste it. With arroqueño agave spirits typically having such a bright and delicate profile, the flavors can be overwhelmed if not properly modulated. The taste and aromas of terra cotta underlie everything in this mezcal. On the nose it bolsters notes of celery, dried chilies, smoke and aloe vera. The palate is savory with notes of cured meat, mushrooms, preserved lemon peel, and ash. The mezcal is quite dense, chewy and a little bit of a wrestling match. All-in-all a pretty interesting tug of war.
Reviewed by Omari Wheat
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Dos Hombres Tobalá
Distiller Score 91
There's a floral flourish on the nose with lavender and clover honey, followed by raspberries, and phenolics in the form of black pepper and asphalt. On the palate, find cedar, dandelion greens, and grassy notes, along with fresh sugar cane and dark chocolate brownies. The finish is clean with macerated strawberries, grilled pineapples, and burnt caramel.
Reviewed by Jake Emen
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Avión Reserva 44 Extra Añejo
Distiller Score 94
There's deep vanilla, salted caramel, and cappuccino on the nose, along with cinnamon, clove, and mild jalapeño--and that's just on the first couple of whiffs. There's much more going on here. On the palate, there is a smooth harmony not unlike what shows in some very mature cognac. The agave flavor doesn't hide behind the oak influenced flavors, it rides along beside them, peeking out once in a while to remind you this is indeed tequila. The finish is long, creamy, and deeply complex.
Reviewed by Paul Belbusti
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El Tesoro 85th Anniversary Extra Añejo Tequila
Distiller Score 96
The aroma from the tequila is wonderfully complex with a mix of cedary wood, ripe agaves, barrel spices, a touch of vanilla, some caramel and a mix of wildflowers. The flavors on the palate move to a darker profile, and while the oak barrels are dominant, there is still an herbal/vegetal agave note to be found. Finish has a charred oak quality which enhances the peppery agave notes adding another layer of complexity. A mature tequila with gravitas which leans more herbal and spicy than sweet and dessert-like. Serve neat.
Reviewed by Stephanie Moreno
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Mezcal Pierde Almas Conejo
Distiller Score 90
The rarest of the Pierde Almas mezcals starts with tropical fruit and agave on the floral nose. The rich, buttery palate offers more agave and fruit, with herbal and almond notes, and a smoky, gamey quality in the background that is more pronounced than the Pechuga. The warm, medium finish offers more agave, herbs and hints of smoky meat.
Reviewed by Daniel Djang
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Mezcal Pierde Almas Pechuga
Distiller Score 91
Clocking in between 49-51% ABV, the Pechuga offers a complex nose with the infused ingredients coming through in notes of grilled pineapple and baked apples, almond and anise. More of that wild fruit on the sweet and floral palate, along with agave and a subtle umami that - while it’s nothing like turkey - hints at something gamey with a bit of smoke. The finish is long and extends the savory, salty notes as well as light smoke.
Reviewed by Daniel Djang
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Fuenteseca Reserva Extra Añejo Tequila 9 Años
Distiller Score 98
Utterly distinguished, the nose starts with sweet treble notes of nutmeg, cardamom and allspice. On the palate, baked apple and syrupy agave flavors are bounded by subtle vanillin, raw sugar cane and pipe tobacco. The spirit really melds well with the wood here; this is likely in part due to the focus and restrain of the column-distillate that forms a preponderance of the blend. There is less raw agave character than some might want, but it is a compelling vision of what aged tequila can be, with the delicacy and refinement of a fine Cognac. A singular masterpiece.
Reviewed by Duncan McRoberts
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El Tesoro Mundial Collection: Laphroaig Edition (2023 Release)
Distiller Score 90
The aroma brings to mind a lightly smoked mezcal. There's also a savory smoked meat scent and bright tropical fruit accents. The peat flavors from the Laphroaig casks present moderately and there's some medicinal accents here which fans of the single malt will enjoy. The mid palate is where you'll find the cooked agave flavors as well as an earthy, mossy taste. The finish is dry with a peppery bite and a smoked meat taste. Definitely a tequila with lots going on.
Reviewed by Stephanie Moreno
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Mezcal Los Siete Misterios Pechuga
Distiller Score 98
The mezcal starts off soft with fruity aromatic notes of papaya orange, and honeydew melon, as well as herbal aromas of hoja santa and mint with a touch of clove. The palate follows suit with the addition of pear, plantain and acacia honey making it even more complex. If you find one don't hesitate to pick up!
Reviewed by Omari Wheat
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Herradura Legend Tequila
Distiller Score 93
The grooved barrels have certainly influenced the aroma with oak and char smoke coming through along with dried herbs and toasted nuts. The tequila is medium full and shows the peppery agave notes that are found in Herradura tequila. The aftertaste is earthy and bittersweet and the tequila feels warm in your chest. The fact that these are new barrels rather than used bourbon allows the tequila to retain the peppery and herbal quality in the tequila.
Reviewed by Stephanie Moreno