Del Maguey Tobalá Mezcal

Rating: 16/23 My initial experience with this spirit was negative when I was new to tasting drinks. I've decided to try it again. Nose: Very earthy. Lots of dry, dusty notes reminiscent of a trail, interspersed with occasional sweet, watery herbal notes—like bits of cactus—and a faint, more pronounced herbal scent leading into mild smoke. A hint of spices, such as turmeric with a touch of cinnamon, is also present. Palate: The taste is more tart than anticipated, with significant spice and a strong mint presence. There's some earthiness and smoke, but the primary notes are lemon, a hint of vinegar, spice, and mint. The mint intensifies relative to the tartness, accompanied by a subtle malty sweetness and a taste of river water. Finish: The mintiness, smokiness, sweetness like river water, and a touch of tartness persist. It's a robust finish. Faint vegetal and herbal undertones also emerge. - Continued - This presents a considerable challenge. It doesn't seem to harmonize well, amplifying what are typically background notes into main flavors. It's intriguing, but I find it appealing. Compared to a more widely accessible option like Del Maguey Chichicapa, this offers a fascinating complexity. I'm not sure I'd want a bottle of this, which is a significant drawback for me. It's difficult to place. I'm considering scores between 15 and 18. This is definitely not comparable to Del Maguey Arroqueno. I prefer Chichicapa, but not by a large margin. While very different from Los Vecinos Espadin, I believe the quality is similar, leading me to a score of 16.

The nose begins with a potent vegetal smoke, followed by blue cheese crumbles, then fruits like mango, papaya, and Bosc pear, before shifting to charcoal-grilled portobello mushrooms and fried yucca root, along with floral notes, aloe vera, black pepper, earthy minerality, and vanilla, accompanied by a moderate alcohol burn. The taste presents a medium mouthfeel, starting with fresh lime, then moderate vegetal smoke, followed by blue cheese crumbles, salted mango, papaya, and Bosc pear. A medium spice then fades into charcoal-grilled portobello mushrooms and fried yucca root, floral notes, eucalyptus, black pepper, earthy minerality, and soft vanilla, with a medium alcohol burn. The finish is long with moderate smoke reminiscent of a freshly lit Padron cigar, flint minerals, eucalyptus, salted mango, vanilla meringue, and lime. This is a highly enjoyable pour with an astonishing nose that masterfully balances fruits, cooked vegetables, funky cheese, florals, and earthy minerality, which I could spend hours smelling. This balance carries over to the taste, though it's slightly less perfect with a medium drying spice mid-palate that subsides before the long, balanced finish of smoke, earthy minerality, citrus, and soft vanilla that lasts for minutes. Many thanks to a friend for the generous sample.

An intense Single Village Mezcal from Del Maguey Distillery (NOM-O41X) in the Vino De Mezcal Series. Handcrafted in the highlands of Oaxaca, Mexico, using Tobala agave, a high-altitude wild variety. The agave was roasted for 30 days, fermented with local spring water for 6-8 days, and then aged in oak. It begins intensely with floral, agave, fruit, and smoke notes. A rich and creamy middle adds hints of pineapple, mango, and cinnamon. It concludes with a long and balanced finish featuring hints of salinity, tropical fruits, and caramel. Tasted April/May 2019 and January 2022.

Third mezcal sampled during a Del Maguey tasting. Nose: Less intense than the others, with notes of barnyard, vegetal character, and a hint of smoke. Taste: A sweet, slick arrival that transitions to dry, vegetal, spicy, and peppery notes. Overall, it's intriguing and the best of the evening. However, I wouldn't buy a bottle or order another drink at a bar. I don't think mezcal is my preference, and that's fine – the world of whiskey is vast enough.

The aroma possesses a soapy quality, which becomes more pronounced if the mezcal is chilled. Smoke is present but less intense than in other examples. I detect lime, tropical fruit, and clay pots. The body is lighter compared to several other Del Maguey mezcals, yet still substantial when contrasted with El Jolgorio offerings.

Richer and smokier than the Espadin Especial, but it still has a medicinal taste from the citrus and menthol. It changes from start to finish, and the finish isn't terrible, but I'm not fond of it. It has an overpowering salty flavor.