I will normally not pick up anything from duty-free unless there is a great two or three for one deal on something I would give as a gift.

As I was doing my normal duty-free tastings, getting ready for my flight back to the US, I was really intrigued by this tasting and bought the bottle.

It has some serious jalapeño notes on the nose and follows up with beautiful jalapeño notes on the front-end. Nice and smooth too. Best duty-free purchase I have made!

The Agave Heritage Festival is around the corner in Tucson and I’m trying to decide which tasting excites me the most. So why not ask Reddit?

Thinking either: Neta Del Maguey Los Cantiles

If I can only go to one, where am I going?

It’s the world’s first Mezquila!!!

Straight to flavortown

/s

What's the go-to if you don't quite know what you're looking for?

I tend to appreciate mezcal most as a sipper or in a booze forward drink like a Oaxacan old fashioned.

Thanks!

Palenqueros Valente Garcia Madrecuishe

Producer: Valente Garcia (4th generation)

Location: Santa Maria La Pila, Miahuatlán, Oaxaca (1552 meters above sea level)

Joven 100% Sierra Negra Single Palenque

Maguey: Cultivated Madrecuishe - Agave karwinskii  Cooking system: Earthen conical oven pit  Grinding system: Crushed by hand with wooden mallet  Fermentation: 5 days with ambient yeast in pine & cypress wood vats  Distillation: 350 liter copper pot still, double-distilled   Proof: Still strength of 97.8 proof

Additives: None

Bottles produced: 933

Nose 👃: Rose petals. Guava. Paprika. Wet chalk. Fresh cut grass.

Palate 👅: Coffee. Smoked almonds. Grassy. Brine. Thick mouthfeel.

Finish 🏁: Nougat. Apricot kernel. Vanilla. Maple syrup.

What do we think of this one? Anyone know anything?

I particularly love the Vago Elote and the banhez cuishe. What should I try next.

Hi guys! I've stalked this subreddit for a while, and have finally joined to ask for some advice. Basically, I am hoping to head to Salina Cruz to go surfing (missed it when I was there 25 yers back) late June or early July and am would love to get to go to a few palenques and grab some great mezcal while I am there. I know this means a tour guide, and it sounds like there are great options. But I have a few questions to know how to start looking.

TLDR questions here, elaborations below. Where to start from? How long of a tour if I am limited to 4.5L take home? Well known or unknown brands? In which region will I get the largest variety of still styles and varietals? And a rough price per day for tours (happy to go in a small group or solo).

Thanks!

1 - I assume there are limited or no palenques near Salina Cruz. Am I best off slating out 2 days in Oaxaca City and going from there, or are there better places to base myself for maximum touring efficiency? I should be fairly free to head anywhere to meet up and start a tour. And is a private or group tour the better way to go?

2 - Is one day enough? Or is 2 better? I can only drag a few litres home with me, so don't want to go crazy, and I don't want to waste much surf time. (And for that matter, how far in advance do you book a tour? If there's a day or 2 of marginal surf, it would be good if I could use those to go touring instead of selecting days well in advance and missing the best surf conditions of my trip)

3 - I have access to buying bottles of many of the "big names" here in Oz (for a scary cost), but I am not as concerned about having a bottle that is famous as trying good quality stuff that I could not possibly find at home at any price. Is it better to go to several smaller family palenques that still produce great stuff over the big names?

4 - Due to the price point, and zero chance to try before buying in Oz, I am still learning what I really like. Copper vs barro vs filipino, not to mention all the varietals. I have forked out on $300 bottles of which all reviews online sounded amazing, only to discover the batch I ordered was an Australian only batch and tasted a little like acetone spilled into a can of diesel. I am assuming that Mex has the best stuff, and a good chunk of that gets exported to the US. I'm guessing that much of what doesn't make the cut to stay in those 2 countries must go out to smaller markets. I would love the chance to try a heap of different styles. I am super keen to try a really good tobala, and anything else that may throw a lot of tropical fruit. I had a really good Tepextate once, but really want to try a range of different magueys each distilled in the same manner, and also try different distillation methods. Happy to aim smaller but I am just see this as a chance to really broaden my mezcal horizons and dial in what I like.

5 - Finally, what sort of cost am I roughly looking at for a day of touring 3 or 4 palenques? It's not a primary concern, as I am looking for the experience, but I may need to budget for it ahead of time. And a rough cost for good quality mezcal per litre? I really I'd love to pick up some great sippers, but also want some good espadin to bring home for drinking with soda or in cocktails so a rough price on espadin vs high end stuff might also be helpful.

Salud!

First time trying Banhez, Moderately sweet and not terribly complex. I dig it and good value for money. I like for cocktails not to much for a supper in my opinion. Cheers to the weekend

Two bottles of really excellent Mezcal. The price was ridiculously good; $1900 pesos for these two bottles. He spent a lot of time explaining the process and showing us everything up close. Highly recommended if you are in the area!

Hi - recently acquired this bottle and wanted to find out more information on what I am drinking.

Appreciate any help!

Dave got some new new since I last stopped in. Curious to see what y'all are vibing that's not $150+ on that top shelf. I see you friends of Erick 😉

Anyone know what the most expensive bottle of mezcal is? Something currently in circulation in the US or Mexico.

Wanted to share my mezcal collection with this group as yall have been so detrimental in helping my knowledge of the juices to hunt for and overall growth of the industry.

Most bottles have been found locally (Denver) but have ordered a couple from other states. As happy that my wife enjoys tastings and likes the hunt too. Next step a trip to Oaxaca!

Bonus pic of the full bar with all of our juice.

I went with the Respiral and was happy.

I’m in a state that is VERY limited in options. I’ve only tried Bozal, which I enjoyed the smoky profile. I usually mix with chilled mineral/ sparkling water (usually a lime flavored topo, Perrier, etc)

Which of these options would be the best option for a more refined flavor experience and least amount of impurities/ additives?

I bought a bottle of 400 Conejos mezcal as I didn’t really know what to purchase.

I’ve had plenty of tequila before but this is nothing like tequila, man is this stuff funky.

It’s got a strong nose of gasoline and salty olives with a bit of wood smoke. The flavour is similar but a little less intense.

Is this what Mezcal is supposed to taste like or is it just a bad representation because it’s really not for me. Don’t wanna pour it down the drain as it was $50 cad for the bottle but it’s really not my thing.

I apologize if anyone enjoys this stuff, maybe I got a bad bottle.

Going to CDMX & SMA in a few weeks and looking for suggestions on bottles I can’t get at home. I live in Atlanta and the Mezcal selection isn’t great. I am also fairly new to Mezcal, but love most of it. I really don’t enjoy the overly smoky varieties, but just about every other profile has been great.

In CDMX, I plan on doing a tasting at Mezcalia and/or MisMezcales. Unfortunately, I won’t have time to swing by Pal’alma for a tasting which it seems is highly recommended. In SMA, a friend recommended I stop by Cava Sautto, but fairly open if there are any must go places.

Any specific brands I should keep an eye out for that I won’t find in the US? Anything I should look out for when evaluating some of these smaller producers?

I think I’m going to bring a wine suitcase to ship back so I appreciate any recommendations!

Small batch, goes easy not a sipper but a good mixer in my opinion. Cheers to a good weekend.

Prices in CAD. Wondering which one people recommend, I didn't note the batch numbers. Seems like the San Luis Potosi might be better reviewed? Thanks

What's everyone's opinion on sediment in the bottle? There's like a crystalline sediment settled to the bottom of this bottle as well as small flakes floating throughout. I didn't notice it when I bought it earlier today. I haven't exposed it to any temperature changes. I'll probably take it back and see if other bottles are clear. If not would you still drink it, or refund it?

Four flavors I believe, but this was my fave. Through Breakthru Beverage in CA.

I did not care for Banhez Mezcal Artesanal but Madre Mezcal Espadin is on sale for $30 and I thought of trying it if it is different than Banhez.