Del Maguey Chichicapa Mezcal

Perfect entry point to high end mezcal. I first experienced it as a recommended base for a delicious cocktail the "Naked and Famous", but when I bit the bullet on the bottle to bring the cocktail to a Halloween party, I couldn't help but taste the true spirit, and the journey it took me on is unforgettable. Minty fresh citrus and gingerbread/cinnamon nose (I've noticed variability between bottles for the gingerbread note) precede a briny and oceanic body followed by a wet mineral finish with a backbone of smoke. Totally unique, especially at the seemingly high price.

Napthelene, eucalyptus, lavender, milled grain, cacao

Smooth and smokey! Great alone with a smoked fish or good in a Mezcal Negroni.

This is one of my first mezcal purchases. I initially got it to use in cocktails and at the time I didnt really drink mezcal on it's own. But after finally trying it on it's own a couple months after purchasing it I couldnt believe how good it was. Its really what got me hooked on mezcal and what got me searching for more elusive bottles. Its incredibly versatile and really works great in cocktails and on it's own and for $60 or so it's a very good value. The nose is very light, with some citrus and a touch of smoke. It's really very fleeting, which may be the only real negative. The palate still has the smoke but it doesnt last long and quickly gives way to a sweeter fruit flavor, maybe pineapple. On the tongue it has a thick oily feel to it, almost the feel you get from a bottle of Russian vodka straight from the freezer. The finish lingers for quite a while, with a slight burn and a touch of sweetness. This is definitely a great beginner mezcal, but it's still worthy of being in any mezcal fans collection regardless of how popular it is. I was tempted to bump this up to a 4.25, but the nose hurts it slightly, but either way I would recommend this mezcal.

This does not have a gross, briny, medicinal taste. It's dry and refreshing with smoke and a hint of sweetness. The best Del Maguey I've tried. Woody and a bit peaty. A bit like a dry Islay scotch. It could be really good if had more depth. Smokey and notably minty in a very agave way. It's rich with chocolate and tobacco flavors present. Some apple, roses, and bits of lime are there too. The magnificent element is that all of this fits together in a way that is assertive but keeps the rich presence despite the general dearth of sweetness and cream. The finish is nice and there are no unsettling flavors in here. Definitely an edgy drink, but for fans of Blanco tequila and Islay scotch, this is worth a try. The balance of peat and smoke is good, giving it just the right amount of bacon flavor without intruding on Lagavulin 16's territory. There are some here all flavors, but it is hard to make out what they are. A bit of spice is here, but it is not overwhelming. It is hard to imagine drinking much of this at once, but it's depth and variety are impressive and its flavors mix well. I'd take it as a sipper on my shelf, but it doesn't blow my mind. It is dry, but there is just enough sweetness that it is not oppressively so. Somewhat a novelty, but also quite good. It would be nice if the finish had a bit less tobacco/iodine/menthol though. Relative to almost any tequila, this is super minty and bitter. That says a lot about mezcal for anyone thinking that they are almost the same as tequila. It's fruity with bits of citrus and prominent banana. The smoke and iodine really permeate. This is like the Islay version of tequila. There are some flavors going on here, but they can be difficult to reconcile and they are exceedingly strong. In a way, the oddness of this reminds me of Del Bac El Dorado mixed with iodine and Don Julio terroir. The nose has some punchy menthol and sour herbal flavors, bit it also has some nice sweet toffee notes. This is smoother than Laphroaig 10 despite its moderate spice. The flavor of maple and brown sugar front he bourbon barrels jumps out. It still tastes like bitter herbs and menthol, but the bourbon provides a nice balance with some nice chocolate flavors. This is as close as mezcal gets to tasting nice. It's interesting and tasty, but it isn't something that I would enjoy drinking as a staple. It's a bit better than Laphroaig 10, but it's still not delightful. That astringency is weird and the flavors of astringency, menthol, bitterness, and and sweetness are conceptually kind of balanced, but they have this funky, new-age assertiveness. The caramel is essential to this success. It is quite strong. I would like less spice and menthol, but those elements are not overwhelming. It's nice they the caramel is on the finish and that the cherry flavor is mild rather than tart and punchy. Really, it's the bourbon flavor that makes this enjoyable. The mezcal flavor is more of an interesting quirk. It smells like butterscotch and cinnamon with plenty of leather and wood. The palate is rich and minty with cinnamon and butterscotch flavors. Plenty of vanilla is here. It definitely has that bourbon influence and that is a great thing. There is some banana in here but somehow it's a nice flavor. There is a strong smoke flavor that give the wood a charred element. It is so charred that there is even some iodine. The banana gives way to some mango and other tropical fruits. There are also some berries coming in with strawberry and blueberry up front with a raspberry tartness mid-palate. There is a lot going on here and it is a very strange drink. Chocolate is definitely present in the background, building up the richness and creaminess. It toes the line, but it provides smoke (which turns a bit into tobacco), umami, candy, and fruit. The flavors are Ina precarious balance and there isn't some deep, unifying complexity, but this is a pretty good drink that would be fun to sip on many occasions. It could do without the mintiness though. There's an initial alcohol burn that brings leather, smoke, tobacco, cinnamon, and some mild caramel with it. The leather is the most prominent and the flavor is rich and a bit on the standard size with a lot of full backing behind some otherwise mostly standard mezcal.