Del Maguey Arroqueño Mezcal

Rating: 20/23 N: Fresh cherry mixed with vinegary mustard, some dry but fresh wood, and dry smoke. It's an interesting nose with an interesting balance going on. Somehow, it works out. The complexity isn't great here, but I'm intrigued. P: Tart dried cherry (which is also fairly sweet and has some decent depth) starts it out, leading into some mustard with a bit of vinegar to it. Then, the earthiness builds out of the mustard seed, providing a full but kind of dusty, musty backing. There's some really interesting swirling but faint herbal and vegetal components here. I'm having trouble placing them. Some spiciness comes out and there's a faint sweetness to it, suggesting cinnamon. I'm really enjoying this palate. The complexity is really there. Sure, it's a little off-kilter, but the balance still works out. F: Some dry tartness with a bit of a woody character comes out while some smoke remains. I get some faint vegetal cherry with some of that sweet river water. There's maybe some herbal flavor in here and it's still a solid finish, but the substantial reduction in complexity from the palate is a bit of let down. - Continued - This is tremendously complex and interesting with some really well executed flavors, yet it's never harsh or out of balance (despite its odd flavor profile). There's no off notes either. I would put this above the Chichicapa because of its better complexity. There's also a sense of refinement in the execution of this flavor that the Chicapa doesn't have. I'd also put it above Mezcalero #21. This is probably my new favorite mezcal. There's a lot happening here and there's a lot of subtlety, but it sure comes together nicely. This is interesting to contemplate and I'd be delighted to have a bottle. I can't see this being below an 18 and less than a 19 seems pretty unlikely too. A 21 seems likely as high as it could go though. I can vaguely imagine a 22, but not really. I expect to land on a 19 or 20. Upon further contemplation, I'm leaning toward a 20.

The nose starts with a bouquet of flowers followed by a smoke similar to a fire sitting by the ocean then comes fruits of cantaloupe, lychee, and sautéed cherries then earthy notes of dark chocolate, shiitake mushrooms, and olive oil coated grilled asparagus with a squeeze of lime on top with light ethanol burn. The taste is a medium almost airy mouthfeel that starts with a light lime along with floral notes like walking through a meadow of wild flowers followed by smoked sea salt then comes fruits of cantaloupe, orange, lychee, and black cherries then earthy notes of spicy dark chocolate, black pepper, shiitake mushrooms, and olive oil coated grilled asparagus with medium ethanol burn. The finish is medium length with Sichuan pepper, light minerality, cantaloupe, fried yucca root, ocean brine, dark chocolate, lychee fruit, and moderate smoke. This is simply stunning with a perfect balance on the nose and palate of smoke, floral, brine, citrus and earthy notes that seems almost cloud like textured with a wonderful medium length finish. I can’t find a single fault with this mezcal and simply drink it, close my eyes and marvel at how a new make spirit can be so perfectly balanced and complex. There are spirits out there that cost thousands that can’t compare to this and if you’re a mezcal fan, this is an absolute bucket list one to try. A huge thanks to @ctbeck11 for my own bottle of this to dive into and explore. I’m going to need to find a backup or two of this as I wish to never be without it in my liquor cabinet.

Nose: Warm, full, inviting, malty (!?!). Lord, is this really mezcal? There are flashes of Ardbeg in this!!! Deep herbal tones and a rich melange of fruit and smoke. This is, without exception, the best nose I've ever encountered on a mezcal. Smoked asparagus of the highest order, fragrant vegetal aromas, elusive citrus notes and fleeting sooty smoke. It is ... divine. Palate: Warm, rich, rounded, complex, minty, slightly astringent, herbal, asparagus and finally sweet. That's just the arrival - and it's monumental. The palate develops sweet melon and fruity notes, but it's like fruit salad in rose-petal and frankincense infused syrup. This is not common fresh fruit. Chocolate and very subtle smoke notes appear as well. The texture is - absent - in the best way. You hardly notice you have liquid in your mouth. Finish: Short. Suave, sweet and genteel with not a single off note. A blissful and entirely satisfying finale. Stunning. This is quite simply the best mezcal I've tasted, bar none. It is the benchmark against which all mezcal should be judged. The official tasting notes here are a bit ... odd ... but I can't disagree with the score. My profound thanks to @PBMichiganWolverine via way of @Soba45 for the rare opportunity to taste this. I am envious of your prices and availability in the US. We had no allocation here, and even if we had it would have been three times the price. "Outstanding" : 90/100 (5 stars)

I cracked open this bottle of mezcal, namely because was just in the mood for a non-whiskey for my Friday eve once -a-week pour. This is what Del Maguey refers to as “vino de mezcal”. It’s one of their rarer mezcals, made with nothing except agave and the Oaxacan heat. The arroqueno agave is one of the hardest ones to harvest. It grows at an elevation of 5000 ft, is a huge prehistoric looking spiky plant, and can take up to 25 years before it can be harvested. Then it’s milled by hand, and left to ferment in the open air until two distillations. Until I had this , my favorite mezcal had been Del Maguey Chichicapa. This blows that out of the water. I had to let it sit out for a while, and add just a few drops of water. But once I did that, I got freshly cut rosemary aroma. Taste was amazing—-cantaloupes, mint, a bit of light earthy smoke. One of the more complex spirits I’ve had, and easily the best mezcal. Complexity rivals that of top tier single malts. Now, here’s the kicker—-only 360 bottles of this is produced. Yeah...I’d classify that in the rare category. If it’s still available, you won’t be disappointed, especially at $80-110 price range.

This Friday night pours me a tequila courtesy of my Mexican supplier @PBMichiganWolverine Never having a Mezcal previously, I am not sure what to expect. But, hey, it’s a Friday night. Color is water like clear and clean. An herbal and earthy base nose with a delicate sweetness. Cedar, cantaloupe, cocoa powder with a maltiness of ovaltine. A smokiness that is Islay-like with grass and herbal flavors and green vegetables. Melon rinds, lime zest, oranges, mangoes, Granny Smith apples, raw broccoli and bitter dark chocolate. All these flavors are bold, strong and in you face (and palate). Finish is black pepper with caramel,melon with a medium ride out of barrel char. This is a tequila that is unlike any I have had previously. Not being experienced is tequilas, though my exposure has been broader, I found this to be unique and vibrant. Light and smokey with a bitter edge and complexity. A good sipping tequila. However, it wasn’t the over the top tequila that I expected. Maybe it my first Mezcal and inexperience. Maybe my palate is less tequila refined. All-in-all, a fine sipping tequila. Thanks Pranay for a rare treat. [88/100][Tasted: 8/14/20]

N: Light smoke, tropical fruit, caramel, tropical flowers, yellow cake with vanilla frosting. P: Smooth, sweet, tropical fruit, rich and round caramel infused with cooked fruit, honey drizzled pear, wild floral honey. F: Smoked fruit, tobacco, earth, dried flowers, sour stone fruit, throat warming heat. Absolutely brilliant. Complex, different at each stage, but completely complimentary. I'm not sure what else to ask for in a mezcal, or any other drink for that matter. One of the tastiest straight sipping drinks I've tried. _______________________ Please come join an unofficial Distiller community on Discord (now one whole year old!): https://discord.gg/4nfePCdyKM. We chat spirits (and other things) in real time while being a great resource to each other for recommendations, finding deals, and generally enjoying the journey together. (If the link is expired - it shouldn't be - please post a comment and I will gladly and usually quickly provide a new one.)