Casamigos Mezcal Joven

Rating: 14/23 Nose: It definitely smells like mezcal, albeit a bit milder and less intricate than Los Vecinos Espadin. It does smell pleasant, with notes of sourdough bread, a hint of olive brine, rosemary, something slightly off, and a faint mineral undertone. Primarily, though, it's sourdough bread. Palate: There's more complexity on the palate than the nose suggested. It's smoky with a clean gasoline flavor, not like a burning tire, but that sensation quickly recedes, allowing notes of vanilla and subtle banana to emerge, harmonizing with a slightly spicy herbal taste reminiscent of rosemary. I also detect that sourdough flavor, along with rosemary and light olive brine, which is appealing. There's a tanginess that suggests pineapple, and a dusty, earthy quality to the spice. It has a flavor like salted chicken breast, seasoned lightly with pepper, then grilled to a slightly dry, charred state. While not my favorite mezcal palate, it's quite enjoyable. Finish: Smoke with a clean gasoline flavor, a touch of rosemary spice, some of that dry earthiness, and a bit of tropical fruit sweetness, occasionally evoking vanilla. A hint of sourdough starter is also present. This is a solid, typical mezcal. It captures the essential mezcal profile of smoke, gasoline, herbs, meat, and some sweetness with a touch of fruit, without overdoing it. The distinct sourdough flavor is the highlight. I also appreciate its relative lightness; similar to certain other spirits, it doesn't try to appear stronger than it is, avoiding flavor clashes and presenting a deliberate, refreshing profile. This would be a good mezcal for newcomers to the category and one I'd be happy to drink. It's less intense and assertive than Los Vecinos Espadin. Los Vecinos offers more complexity, but while this initially seems simple, the spices that develop on the palate are excellent. This pleasantly reminds me of Cabeza Blanco (which is hard to find for some reason), with its spices, boldness (for tequila), and tropical fruits. However, I prefer Cabeza between the two due to its better complexity and how it pushes boundaries for its category. Fans of Cabeza exploring mezcal would find this an easy transition. For the price, it's an acceptable value, though I would opt for Los Vecinos Espadin instead, especially since it's also cheaper. You won't be disappointed with this, though. I'm considering a 12 to 14, possibly a 15. Most likely a 13 or 14. Currently, I'm leaning towards a 14. Los Vecinos is likely 1 to 2 points higher than this. I rated Los Vecinos a high 15, so a 14 makes sense for this. I'm a bit surprised by this result, as I expected Los Vecinos to score closer to Del Maguey Chichicapa (17). That's likely just due to rounding. I enjoy this sufficiently. In fact, I enjoy it quite a bit. However, for the cost, I have other mezcals I favor over this one.

Aroma - liquid smoke, iodine, tennis ball, rubber, band aid, cooked agave, mint, coriander, dry grass, moderate ethanol burn. Taste - rubber, medicinal iodine, liquid smoke, tennis ball, spearmint, pepper, cooked agave, lemon, salt-cured ham, sour apple, coriander, vanilla, simple syrup, caramel, dry grass, moderate alcohol bite, finishing long with rubber, smoke, and mint flavors. This is the first mezcal I’ve tried, so I’m not quite sure where to place this. I appreciate smokiness in liquor, but feel it might be too overwhelming here. It's how I imagine a diluted Laphroaig would taste straight from the still. Nevertheless, I found this to be a pleasant sipper, if a bit one-dimensional. If there are any mezcal experts out there, please recommend a few good ones, and I'll add them to my list.

I really wanted to enjoy this mezcal; the bottle looks fantastic, similar to the Casamigos tequila set. However, it's harsh and difficult to drink straight. It has a very medicinal, rubbery, and ashy profile, much like mezcal itself, and I admit I'm new to this spirit. Yet, I've experienced smoother versions of these flavors (like Koch El). The harshness of this mezcal might be acceptable for a basic Espadin, but at this price, I'd rather have Sombra, which is half the cost. I do rate it higher for its aesthetic appeal; this bottle is a great display piece on my shelf, and it truly embodies the essence of mezcal.

The aroma has delicate floral hints and agave. The taste includes notes of citrus, banana, and sweet pepper. Smoke is subtly present, almost like liquid smoke. A very soft oak note is in the background. It's quite smooth, but it could benefit from more complexity for drinking straight; however, it might serve as an interesting substitute for vodka in drinks like a martini. I find it appealing, but I need to experiment to determine its optimal uses.

This is my initial experience with Mezcal, and I enjoy it! It definitely has a smoky presence in both aroma and taste; I didn't detect much burn, which was unexpected. Beyond the smokiness, the flavor profile includes typical tequila notes like citrus and a touch of saltiness. Overall, I appreciated it neat and am eager to try it in a margarita to see how it performs!

My first mezcal, but it left a very strong impression. All the wonderful smoke and peat of a Laphroaig Scotch. The vegetal agave flavors I'm accustomed to in tequila emerge at the end after the smoke. It works well neat, but I really enjoy it in a Mezcal margarita or a Mezcal Last Word (Ultima Palabra).