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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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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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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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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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Tears of Llorona Extra Añejo Tequila
Distiller Score 96
Displaying an amber/caramel color, Tears shows some slight bubbles on the edge of the glass (a traditional sign of quality), and puts out aromas of caramel flan, dark chocolate, vanilla and dried fruit. On the palate it's the same in spades, with a little added spice and sweetness from the sherry barrels--and yet Tears is still agave at heart. What a relief.
Reviewed by Ron Bechtol
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Del Maguey Pechuga Mezcal
Distiller Score 95
An intriguing and appealing aroma of anise, almond, licorice, fig jam and cinnamon candle with prunes, pine needles and dates just beneath the surface. Velvety soft but not laid back on the tongue. A lot of good stuff going on here--peppery cinnamon in the form of red hots, along with cloves, star anise and cedar. A most elegant and complex mezcal with the smoke taking a back seat. Lots of sweetness to balance out the 49% alcohol makes it almost easy to drink. Don't miss a chance to sip this.
Reviewed by Kelley Slagle
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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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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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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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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
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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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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