Del Maguey San Jose Rio Minas Mezcal

My bottle from batch RIO-141 Nose: An intriguing vegetative aroma with tropical fruit and floral highlights, like a platter of baked fruits sprinkled with salt and spices - in fact, just like chinicuil salt. Soft jasmine, frangipani and orange blossom and there is a tiny trace of smoke but it is not dominant and it has a rounded, rich character. It’s more like something smoked than smoke itself. Maybe smoked ham or smoked salmon? It is reminiscent of very lightly peated Islay whisky. Palate: The palate is as fruity as the nose, and arrives with a fresh salt/caramel note, or maybe crystalised violets with sea salt. Tropical fruit melange shows through later and there is a light herbal flavour reminiscent of rosemary or eucalyptus. There is an echo of smoke but again it is an infusion rather than a dominant feature - as though every part of the palate has been very lightly smoked. The texture is good, but not outstanding. Finish: Long. Lightly smoked fruits fading into a mild peppery herbal aftertaste with a clean, bracing brine finale. A very clean, relaxed and elegant mezcal. The nose is fragrant and very fine but the body is a little less impressive and dominated by brine. Still, I'd rate this as one of the best I have tried. I bought this bottle about three years ago and it is the last unopened bottle of mezcal I had. I think mezcal is a little more volatile and fragile than other spirits, and it seems to be best when consumed as “fresh” as possible, however this one was very enjoyable and if there was any deterioration over time it was not dramatic or particularly damaging. “Very Good” : 85/100 (4 stars)

There is so much fruit in here it’s hard to describe. Apple, melon, pineapple, the list goes on. Towards the finish, there is a bit of smoke and salt but not as much as other Mezcals. Absolutely amazing, 95