Del Maguey VIDA Clásico

It feels appropriate that the first mezcal I ever sample will also be the first I document. I first tried this a few years ago, and though I enjoyed it significantly, my focus on whiskey kept me from exploring the category deeply. Without further delay, here is my initial review. Lot: VID-214. Bottled on September 11, 2021. Nose: Intense campfire smoke. It's spicy, with notes of grilled pineapple and pepper. Hints of cinnamon red hots. There's a subtle vanilla sweetness, but it's very much in the background. Floral and vegetal notes are present, along with agave. Sandalwood and graham cracker notes appear. There's a slight soapiness, but it's not unpleasant. Perhaps Sriracha. It's extremely intriguing. Palate: I'm quite enjoying an earthy, rubbery quality. Heavy smoke presence. More vegetal and floral notes. Custard and vanilla sweetness. The sandalwood note is something I've only previously encountered in Japanese whisky. Graham cracker/Teddy Graham flavors. Agave, naturally. Cinnamon heat and spice. Finish: Campfire smoke, rubbery earth, sandalwood. Ash. Creamy custard and vanilla. Agave. The finish is short to medium in length, leaning towards medium. As I mentioned before, I'm a fan. This is what introduced me to mezcal. It's the standard Del Maguey offering, so I'm eager to explore their more premium products. I must confess that discerning the specific notes was challenging for me. My experience in this category is limited, and I hope to improve. However, the aroma and taste were excellent. The finish could have used a bit more impact. I believe a higher proof would benefit a spirit like this. Score: 3.75/5. $35 is a small price for a bottle of this quality. Well done, Del Maguey.

My initial experience with mezcal, and I'm not a big tequila enthusiast. Attempting to broaden my horizons. Nose: An initial puff of smoke from the bottle, which vanishes fast. Abundant cooked fruit flavors (understandable, given its origin), clearly agave, but less pronounced than many tequilas I've encountered. It's also wider, with hints of tropical fruit and perhaps mango. A touch medicinal and soapy, but generally pleasant and approachable. Palate: Sweet, fruity, with a hint of spice. Consistent with the nose, presenting a less intense agave profile complemented by pineapple and other tropical notes. The mid-palate introduces subtle brown sugar and tangy elements, reminiscent of barbecue sauce. The spicy heat escalates unexpectedly, revealing a distinct vegetal chili pepper note. Do mezcal reviews include a finish? I hadn't read any mezcal reviews prior to this. The lingering taste is primarily ripe fruit with a mere trace of that persistent warmth. So, there's the finish. I have no basis for comparison. This is genuinely the first mezcal I've ever tried, apart from an occasional cocktail where I didn't bother to inquire about the ingredients. After several extended sessions with tequila, I developed a certain aversion to it, but I'm trying to overcome that (my family is likely contributing to this effort, perhaps unknowingly). This is quite palatable for me. I suppose that's a beginning.

Del Maguey Vida *AROMA: Ash, Wet Straw, Stewed Pear, Canned Green Beans, Freshly Cracked Pepper, abundant Herbal Notes, and Damp Earth. *NEAT: Largely mirrors the aroma. No real surprises. Plenty of Ash. Motor Oil & New Tires (If you've been in an old service station/garage, you know that smell that permeates and you can taste it). There's an almost sugary sweetness in the mid to back of the palate. The herbal character is also present. That Oily, Ashy note coats and lingers for a considerable time. As it fades, it resembles the taste you get when you dislodge a piece of Black Pepper that ended up between your back molars during dinner. A growing warmth builds in the chest and persists. CONCLUSION: I purchased this specifically for experimentation. An online article I read recommended it for its herbal qualities, which I definitely detect. I can see how it would complement a sweeter cocktail (the one I intended it for requires pineapple juice). Similar to a Peated Scotch, with continued sipping, the supporting notes emerge over the ash and smoke. I will endeavor to update after I've mixed it a couple of times.

Del Maguey Vida is likely the most recognized mezcal available. I'm sure many people began their mezcal journey with this before exploring more complex and interesting options. I still encounter it frequently in bars, but even as a beginner mezcal, superior choices exist (like El Buho). The aroma is strongly smoky with a bit of pepper. The smoke carries through to the palate, but it feels diluted. Notes of pineapple and leather appear, but it's primarily smoke. The finish has some spice, though I detect chemical/industrial notes with a slight burn. I still find it enjoyable in cocktails, but I no longer drink it neat. As a cocktail component, I'd rate it around a 3, but neat, it's closer to a 1.5-2. The price for this continues to climb, and it's now called Vida Clasico. I suspect the flavor is unchanged, but at $40 or more, it's too expensive for a mezcal intended for cocktails. For your mezcal cocktail needs, consider El Buho or even Banhez, which can often be found for around $30, sometimes less.

I had hoped my first encounter with mezcal wouldn't be representative, but I truly dislike its flavor. The initial mezcal I sampled was Marca Negra; I found it offensive, tasting like agave fermented in burning tires due to its excessive smokiness and poor quality. A friend recommended Del Maguey Vida, suggesting it's a good introduction to mezcal. I found a bottle on sale for about $22 and decided to try it. It appears very clear in the glass and leaves a nice coating. The aroma presents a noticeable smokiness and earthiness, quite similar to the Marca Negra but much less intense, which is a positive for me. The palate still evokes burning tires, but less intensely, perhaps like a tire fire in an open field rather than an enclosed space concentrating the smoke. It also has earthy notes, reminiscent of a freshly plowed field, making its presence known. The finish offers more smoke and disappointment. I simply do not enjoy mezcal. If this appeals to you, go for it, but none of the flavors resonated with me.

This bottle has been stored for a while. I wanted to review it before sampling some other mezcals. Based on the aroma, I usually anticipate enjoying mezcal more than I actually do. The scent is a pleasant, lightly smoked grapefruit with a slightly vegetal quality. On the palate, the smoke becomes dominant, and the fruit notes fade. While I appreciate the aroma, consuming this is not particularly pleasurable for me. It's still uncertain whether my general dislike for mezcal is the issue, or if this is not a prime example of the spirit. I'm eager to see if I like a couple of other samples I received, but this will be returned to the back of the cabinet.