Del Maguey VIDA Mezcal

Youth and saline stand out this time around.

New to mezcal. Getting bright smoky citrus.

I think it’s fitting that the first mezcal I’ve ever tried will also be the first one I review. I first had this a few years back, and though I liked it a good bit, my preoccupation with whiskey prevented me from diving too deep into the genre. Without further ado, here is my first entry. Lot: VID-214. Bottled 2021/9/11. Nose: Campfire smoke. Big time. It’s spicy. Grilled pineapple and pepper. Cinnamon red hots. There is some vanilla sweetness, but it is way in the background. Floral notes and vegetation. Agave. Sandalwood and graham cracker. There is a soapiness to it, but not at all unpleasant. Sriracha maybe. Very, very interesting. Palate: There is a rubbery, earthiness that I’m actually quite enjoying. Heavy smoke. More of the vegetal and floral notes. Custard and vanilla sweetness. The sandalwood note I’ve only gotten from Japaense whisky before this. Graham cracker/Teddy Graham’s. Agave, of course. Cinnamon heat and spice. Finish: Campfire smoke, rubbery earth, sandalwood. Ash. Creamy custard and vanilla. Agave. Short-to-moderate length, leaning toward the latter. As I suggested earlier, I’m a fan. This one got me into mezcal. It’s the baseline Del Maguey product, so I’m very much looking forward to exploring the higher-shelf offerings. I must admit that I struggled with the notes on this one. I’m not too experienced in this genre, and hope I’ll improve. But the nose and palate were excellent. The finish could’ve used a bit of a boost. I think something like this would thrive at a higher proof. 3.75/5. $35 is a small price to pay for a bottle this good. Well done, Del Maguey.