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Rey Campero Espadín Mezcal
Distiller Score 92
This is a surprisingly floral and delicate example of this type of mezcal, with aromas of lily of the valley, grapefruit rind and green pepper greeting the nose. The palate is light and fruity, with pineapple, ripe grapefruit, lime and vanilla. More floral flavors and hot chili spice play off each other to add a subtle accent to the finish with just a hint of charcoal smoke.
Reviewed by Amanda Schuster
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Mezcales de Leyenda San Luis Potosí
Distiller Score 93
This fabulous spirit has a complex nose of celery salt, seawater, and tangerine zest. Far from a smoke bomb, this spirit captures an elegant and pure style of mezcal. The mineral flavors provide an excellent framework for tones of grilled pineapple and toasted jalapeño. The finish has a bit of heat but lots of sweet fruit. Very good sipping mezcal.
Reviewed by John Rankin
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Bruxo No. 2 Pechuga de Maguey Mezcal
Distiller Score 92
This is a Pechuga for the true agave lover - full-bodied, full-flavored and full-on! It's at once floral, chocolatey, sweet and spicy with a viscous texture that has a surprisingly clean finish. The only thing that might disappoint mezcal fans is there is very little smoke, but it makes up for that in saltiness and overall uniqueness.
Reviewed by Amanda Schuster
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Mezcales de Leyenda Durango
Distiller Score 90
This is a deliciously approachable mezcal with inviting aromas of sandalwood, warm earth, and salted melon. Not smokey — the palate has fantastic weight and delicious flavors of sweet corn, yellow bell peppers, and candied plums. The finish has a warming wave of habanero pepper that washes the sweet tones away and lingers admirably.
Reviewed by John Rankin
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Miel de Tierra Joven Agave Salmiana
Distiller Score 92
The wild and sophisticated nose of this mezcal doesn’t feature smoke, but has loads of delicious exotic cinnamon spice and ripe mango the fruit. The palate continues with clean flavors and a doubling down of delightful spice. The lack of smoke gives the wild agave plenty of opportunity to take center stage and its pungent flavors are felt resonating in the gently sweet and mineral finish.
Reviewed by John Rankin
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Fidencio Tierra Blanca Mezcal
Distiller Score 89
There is a decent amount of smoke and lime zest in the beginning quickly supported by white pepper, chalk, crushed flowers, muddled mint and cilantro culminating with the mouth-watering scent of grilled meat, vegetal aromas and ash. Upfront on the palate is a subtle brine flavor before turning to lemon curd and chalk. The texture is soft but creamy and filled out with notes of prickly pear, papaya, galangal, lemongrass and lemon zest on the finish. Bright and clean much like a Karwinskii and a fun departure in the mezcal world.
Reviewed by Omari Wheat
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Rey Campero Cuishe Mezcal
Distiller Score 93
This expression is a meeting place of fire, fruit and earth. Tropical mango, papaya and pineapple blend with peach, habanero pepper, chive and honeysuckle. Beach bonfire-smoke swirls around this mixture, coaxing it into the tingly hot finish.
Reviewed by Amanda Schuster
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Del Maguey Santo Domingo Albarradas Mezcal
Distiller Score 88
This is one assertive mezcal! On the nose it offers bold notes of strawberry and fermented fruit alongside rustic agave distillate. These rich flavors carry through to the palate, with lots of tropical fruit, salinity, and a hint of smoky barbecue sauce. Despite its vigorous character and high proof, this is an eminently sippable spirit for those who enjoy the wild and unusual flavors mezcal has to offer. Unique and highly recommended.
Reviewed by Jacob Grier
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Mezcal Alipús San Baltazar
Distiller Score 90
The nose is not so much smoky, but ashy with the high elevation seeming to render a subtle style of mezcal here with other aromas like Meyer lemon, white flowers, and salt. The palate brings to mind a myriad of flavors including watermelon Jolly Rancher candies, rosemary, and cough medicine, but this all comes across clean and fresh with a slightly chewy texture. The exotic nature of this mezcal is alluring, but with its medicinal candied quality it can be confusing to enjoy.
Reviewed by Omari Wheat
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Wahaka Mezcal Joven Madre Cuishe
Distiller Score 95
Fruity and herbaceous on the nose, with lime and agave notes standing out. There is a noticeable minerality, umami and earthiness as well as notes of white pepper and grilled pineapple which the warmer temperatures and drier conditions of the volcanic terrain seem to have brought out in the mezcal. The dry, medium finish shows hints of grass and citrus.
Reviewed by Daniel Djang
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Miel de Tierra Añejo
Distiller Score 89
Although hints of agave spice penetrate the decadent nose of creme brûlées and acacia honey, the palate of this luxurious mezcal is a tour-de-force of fresh pastry and golden raisin tones. A true hedonist’s take on agave that betrays no smoke or mesquite flavors and only a trickle of cinnamon candy on the tongue. The oak tones are pleasant and well incorporated, but unfortunately at the sacrifice of any of agave’s more exotic flavors.
Reviewed by John Rankin
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Wahaka Mezcal Tobalá
Distiller Score 95
The nose is sweet and floral, with a distinctive herbaceousness that is one of the tobalá’s signatures. The palate offers notes of mango and pineapple, grass, as well as cinnamon and allspice. The creamy finish is smooth and lengthy, with more tropical fruit, herbal notes and hints of caramel and cloves.
Reviewed by Daniel Djang