cascode
Del Maguey Espadín Especial Mezcal
Mezcal Joven — Oaxaca, Mexico
Reviewed
April 8, 2018 (edited August 7, 2022)
* My bottle: From Lot no. SMA-124
Nose: Supurbly soft, rounded, fruity and floral notes with a light sandalwood background. Sweet plant sap and a touch of briny tang. Reminiscent of a crisp maritime highland single malt with a subtle sherry finish and a suggestion of smoke. A dash of water both softens and enhances the smoke. A really enjoyable nose.
Palate: A fascinating balance between salt and sweet. There is a light sweet and fruity arrival, which quickly morphs into a briny character. In the development chilli heat emerges, but no pepper - it's more fruity than spicy. As it sits in the mouth smokiness begins to unfold and then suddenly an intense second wave of salt floods the palate, only to vanish again just as quickly.
Finish: Long, salt/sweet, warm and smooth. The salty and smoky vegetal notes continue into the distance. Eventually the saltiness is replaced by a mineral sweetness.
Quite briny, but there is an alluring soft creaminess to the nose that draws you back again and again. The palate is initially almost shy and restrained, but it quickly and unexpectedly blossoms. The strong salty note might be a bit too much for some palates - if so a dash of water opens things up wonderfully and reveals a balancing sweetness.
"Good" : 84/100 (3.75 stars)
125.0
AUD
per
Bottle
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@Rick_M I think it’s per year. They really have to limit the production, since these harder to cultivate agaves are limited.
@cascode - was this one-off run of 360 bottles or is it produced 360 bottles per year?
Del Maguey, in fact any top shelf mezcal, is about the same price bracket as good single malts. If you wanted to start off with one really good representatione one I'd recommend Chichicapa, or Pechuga if you can find it. The standard range of "village mezcals" are all good and reasonably priced for the quality. The vino de mezcal range (of which this is one) are a lot more expensive and are more quirky and individual. If you can't find Del Maguey I'd also recommenf Don Amado Reposado and Anejo expressions, and also Vago Elote or Espadin and Ilegal Anejo. All of these are a bit more "refined" than the Del Magueys and lose the rustic edge, but they are still magnificent.
They’re also quite expensive. It’s about $100, except for their “bottom shelf” Vida. That premium pricing is b/c of the micro-distilleries (aka Chico the Donkey’s cousin), combined with organic ingredients, and hard to sustain tough to find unique agaves
Eloquent as always. I really want to dive in head first and grab all of these Del Magueys but I have so much scotch piled up already.