Luminar Mezcal Joven

Rating: 10/23 Nose: Somewhat vegetative with a touch of spice, a bit of an herbal funk, some sweetness (squash?) from the vegetables, and a whisper of smoke. The complexity is adequate, but the profile is erratic and I'm not detecting much smoke. Palate: I detect a flavor reminiscent of spicy wood with a smoky character, akin to a charred barrel, but also somewhat sulphurous. I get faint lemon juice at times with a dash of salinity. It's acceptable, but not what I anticipate from mezcal. There's considerable minerality that brings to mind something like a specific brand, and a funky sweetness that reminds me of another brand. The flavor strikes me as underdeveloped and more like tequila than mezcal. There are some herbal, somewhat vegetative, earthy notes present. The palate is somewhat harsh, yet watery (likely due to the low proof). I appreciate the complexity, but the overall impression it leaves me with is unfavorable due to the harshness and slightly off character. I might have guessed that this was a reposado. Finish: The finish showcases more of the harshness while emphasizing some spice, the bitter remnants of the herbal and vegetative flavors, and minerality. This is my least preferred aspect of the experience. - Conclusion - This is challenging to evaluate. It's intriguing, but it's demanding and also clearly inferior to a specific Espadin bottling. The harshness doesn't help either. With that specific bottling being a 15 and this being definitively worse, I believe a score in the 9 to 13 range is appropriate. The confused nature of the various flavors combined with the sulphur pushes me toward the lower end of that range. I'm considering a 9 to 10 for this now. I'm settling on a 10.

A 50ml miniature from a tasting collection, sampled neat at ambient temperature. In the glass, it displays clear liquid with light-looking legs. The aroma presents minerality and lime zest, with a somewhat perfumed and floral character. On the palate, it's funky, earthy, and reminiscent of green compost, followed by a developing taste of saltiness and minerality in a contest. There's minimal smoke or ethanol presence. It feels somewhat grassy and muted. The conclusion turns sour, nearing spoilage – a taste that was subtly present beneath the compost note and then vanishes rapidly. Some smoky agave or even a touch of ethanol would have been welcome. It's flat. This is the most unusual joven mezcal I've encountered, more akin to a reposado tequila, but that underlying funk… it's a peculiar chemical performance… and not in a pleasant manner.

A smooth, agave-based spirit from NOM-O286X in Zacatecas, Mexico, made with Agave A. tequilana. It starts with a clean profile of agave, citrus & subtle saffron; its balanced & full character adds notes of earth, vegetal qualities & orange peel; leading to a smooth & delicate end with hints of ripe fruits & peppercorn. May / June / November / December 2019

Luminar Mezcal Joven has a clear, silver appearance. The aroma is of agave juice. The flavor is of that, with black pepper and earth. Luminar Mezcal has a medium body and a somewhat slick mouthfeel. It has a medium dry finish.

Clean and approachable for newcomers. As I'm new to mezcal, some varieties I've tried have been overwhelming. This offers a good entry point. I do detect a smoky quality, but I can understand why some might describe it as mild.

No smoke on the nose, it smells vegetal like a tequila blanco. The taste is very clean, without any smoke. It's really good, but not the smoky mezcal I wanted; still, a solid silver tequila.