Mezcalero No. 21

Rating: 18/23 N: This has less of one particular note than many mezcals do, which I guess makes sense seeing as it's a blend.I get some vinegar tartness, but also sweet cherry, smoke, and some dustiness. I struggle to pick out a lot of the more minor details. Still, the balance is really nice. P: Sweet with river water, yet smoky with a big burn. Spiciness starts coming out. It's largely white pepper, but also kind of harsh. There's a little bit of dusty dirt in here too. Some fruit starts coming out, but it's more like orange, lemon, banana, and strawberry than it is like the cherry I thought I got on the palate. The fruit is fairly tamed though. There's some peppermint for sure, which goes well with the spice. There's some tar to the smokiness. I like the complexity and balance here, but it is a bit on the harsh side. Also, the river water and minerality may be a bit bigger part of the flavor than I'd like. Faint vinegar-mustard tartness does come in late on the palate. F: Smoke, earth, faint vinegary mustard. Some hints of watery sweetness from the fruit, but kind of on the oversteeped side, bringing out out a bit more vegetal and bitter flavors. Overall, a solid finish. - Conclusion - This is more subtle than a lot of mezcals, but it still clearly makes a point. My main problem here is the harshness is a bit much. Aside from that, the balance and complexity come together really nicely. I'm looking at around an 18. I doubt it would be lower than a 17 and a 16 seems like the lower limit. 19 seems plausible, but 20 seems unlikely.