Del Maguey Pechuga Mezcal

$39 per shot @ Diablo's in Little Rock, AR. However it was probably the worst shot I tried out of nearly a dozen at this place over the last months. I was told the maguey was steamed with chicken and this gave it some sort of flavor, but all I got was a rough gasoline nose with equally rough sharp unpleasant burn!

Tasted at Tinie’s Mexican restaurant! Amazing and so interesting. Tasted like a lemony ocean. Sweet and salty with just a hint of smoke. Tasted like a nice scotch.

Smoke, pretty smooth. Slightly sweet

I probably have a soft spot for this one since it's my first big mezcal purchase. I've had a bunch of cocktail mezcals (any low abv mezcal under $50) and I enjoyed them but they lacked depth and complexity. This was also my first pechuga and it blew me away back then and while it doesnt hold up as much now that I've tried many other high quality mezcals, it's still very good. As with nearly all pechugas it is triple distilled with a chicken breast hanging in the still during the third distillation. My bottle is actually distilled in 2012 and has an abv of 49% (quality sipping mezcal isnt altered or watered down so the abv changes with each batch). I bought it in 2015 and have randomly drank it off and on since then. Unlike nearly every other spirit most mezcals actually get better after they are opened. Some of the harshness gets toned down and that was the case with this one for sure (there are actually quite a few very good mezcals that are aged in glass before they are released). At the moment I have about 25% of the bottle left. On the nose I get clay and what smells like what you get when you walk outside on a damp, dewy morning. The palate is where this one shines, with some spice (thinking clove), light smoke, leather and citrus. The finish is incredibly smooth, with a nice burn on the way down. It really just lingers for a good ten minutes after the last sip. Its definitely a quality mezcal and one that gets better with age. I would be curious to know if this has changed since the company was sold to Pernod Ricard. Either way, a very good mezcal.

Nose: dry stone Touch of heat, chili Faint chocolate Rich and a little sweet Ripe stone fruits Cinnamon, clove Mellow deep charred wood

Funnily enough my last review on another Del Maguey echoed @cascode sentiments exactly on this one. Read his earlier review its a good one. Such is the force of this one that even with its flavour profile muted you can tell its a dram to be reckoned with. I'd love to taste it in its prime, a fresh bottle would be awesome, still it's got very good bones. Thanks cascode!

A little disappointing. Standard mezcal on the nose. Starts off strong on the alcohol notes. Very little. Wheres the backbone in this Mezcal. After 10+ min the sweetness appears, but not much else. Lacking depth and complexity...the Independent Party of Pechugas.

Mmmmmmmmmazaing. Worth it's weight in gold. Wonderfully complex with nuts , fruits, and smoke. So amazing. @silverelizard and I enjoyed this and don't regret a moment.