Del Maguey Arroqueño Mezcal

Rating: 20/23 Nose: Fresh cherry alongside vinegary mustard, some dry but fresh wood, and dry smoke. An intriguing aroma with an interesting equilibrium. It somehow works. The depth here isn't great, but I'm curious. Palate: Tart dried cherry (which is also quite sweet and has some good depth) begins, leading into some mustard with a bit of vinegar. Then, earthiness builds from the mustard seed, giving a full but somewhat dusty, musty background. There are some really interesting swirling but faint herbal and vegetal hints here. I'm struggling to identify them. Some spice emerges and there's a faint sweetness, suggesting cinnamon. I'm genuinely enjoying this palate. The complexity is definitely present. Sure, it's a little unusual, but the balance still holds. Finish: Some dry tartness with a bit of a woody character appears while some smoke remains. I detect some faint vegetal cherry with some of that sweet river water. There might be some herbal flavor in here and it's still a solid finish, but the significant drop in complexity from the palate is a bit disappointing. - 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 are no off notes either. I would place this above the Chichicapa due to its better complexity. There's also a sense of refinement in the execution of this flavor that the Chicapa lacks. I'd also rank it above Mezcalero #21. This is likely my new favorite mezcal. There's a lot going on here and a lot of subtlety, but it sure comes together nicely. This is interesting to ponder 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 aroma begins with a floral collection, then a smoke reminiscent of a seaside bonfire, followed by cantaloupe, lychee, and pan-seared cherries. Earthy notes of dark chocolate, shiitake mushrooms, and grilled asparagus drizzled with olive oil and a hint of lime emerge, culminating in a mild ethanol sting. The palate offers a moderately light, almost ethereal texture. It opens with a gentle lime and floral sensation, like wandering through a wildflower field, then progresses to smoked sea salt. Fruits like cantaloupe, orange, lychee, and dark cherries appear, alongside earthy flavors of spiced dark chocolate, black pepper, shiitake mushrooms, and asparagus coated in olive oil, with a moderate ethanol presence. The conclusion is of medium duration, featuring Sichuan pepper, subtle minerality, cantaloupe, fried yucca, ocean saltiness, dark chocolate, lychee, and a moderate smokiness. This expression is truly exceptional, boasting impeccable harmony on the nose and palate, blending smoke, florals, brine, citrus, and earthy undertones with an almost ethereal texture and a delightful medium finish. I detect no flaws whatsoever in this mezcal; it simply invites you to sip, close your eyes, and appreciate the profound balance and complexity achievable in a new make spirit. Some spirits costing fortunes cannot rival this, and for mezcal enthusiasts, this is an essential experience. Much gratitude to a friend for this bottle to explore. I will need to secure a couple more, as I never want to be without it.

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 a friend via way of a friend 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 opened this bottle of mezcal, specifically because I was just in the mood for a non-whiskey for my Friday evening pour once a week. 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 arroqueño agave is one of the most difficult 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 surpasses that significantly. 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 a 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 are 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 evening, a Mexican supplier sent me a tequila. As I've never had a Mezcal before, I'm unsure of what to anticipate. However, it is Friday. The liquid is clear and clean, resembling water. The aroma has an herbal and earthy foundation with a delicate sweetness. Notes of cedar, cantaloupe, cocoa powder, and an Ovaltine-like maltiness are present. There's a smokiness similar to Islay scotch, with grassy, herbal, and green vegetable notes. Melon rinds, lime zest, oranges, mangoes, Granny Smith apples, raw broccoli, and bitter dark chocolate are also detected. All these flavors are intense, strong, and very prominent on the nose and palate. The finish features black pepper, caramel, and melon, with a medium exit accompanied by barrel char. This is a tequila unlike any I've encountered. Though my experience with spirits is broad, having never tried Mezcal before, I found this to be distinctive and lively. It's light and smoky with a bitter undertone and complexity. A fine tequila for sipping. However, it wasn't the overwhelmingly strong tequila I had anticipated. Perhaps it's due to it being my first Mezcal and my lack of experience. Perhaps my palate is not refined enough for tequila. All in all, it's a good sipping tequila. Thanks to a friend for a rare delight. [88/100][Tasted: 8/14/20]

Nose: Faint smoke, tropical fruit, caramel, exotic flowers, vanilla cake with frosting. Palate: Smooth, sweet, tropical fruit, rich, round caramel infused with cooked fruit, honey-drizzled pear, wild floral honey. Finish: Smoked fruit, tobacco, earth, dried blossoms, tart stone fruit, warming heat in the throat. Truly superb. Intricate, evolving with each sip, yet harmonious. I can't imagine wanting more from a mezcal or any beverage. One of the most delightful straight sippers I've encountered. _______________________ Join our unofficial Discord community for spirits enthusiasts (one year strong!): https://discord.gg/4nfePCdyKM We discuss spirits and more in real-time, serving as a valuable resource for recommendations, finding deals, and enjoying our shared passion. (If the link is inactive, please leave a comment, and I'll happily provide a new one.)