Luminar Mezcal Añejo

Rating: 8/23 Nose: I detect more caramel, vanilla, and light banana notes compared to the reposado. There's a dry, dusty wood presence. A touch of light, mineral-driven fruity (apple?) sweetness also comes through. It's a solid aroma. Palate: A pleasant sweet caramel with some richness is present, balanced by mineral restraint and dustiness that integrates with the wood. There's a hint of lemon and orange, though these flavors are difficult to discern. Then, a significant wave of sulfur appears, which is quite overpowering. It also carries a resemblance to decaying vegetation. Somehow, the vegetal and smoky characteristics seem to have combined into a flawed core that also lacks depth. Finish: A little caramel sweetness and minerality, but predominantly sulfur. - Conclusion - This isn't as harsh as the other Luminars, but it's the first of them that has been actively unpleasant flavor-wise. Even for the review's sake, I'd rather not finish this 50 ml bottle. While some notes are enjoyable, the central flavor is poor, and it still has a degree of harshness. It's hard to see this scoring higher than a 9, but likely at least a 6. I'm leaning towards an 8. I think the joven can get away with the sulfur because it's intentionally funky. The flavor here seems more refined until the overwhelming, rotten, sulfuric wave hits. The sulfur alone might place it at a 9, but the rotten taste is awful. An 8 seems about right.

A robust Mezcal from NOM-O286X. It offers an aromatic beginning with hints of tropical fruits, nuts, and baking spices. Its rich and spicy character adds notes of almond, vanilla, oak, chocolate, lemon peel, orange peel, chamomile, banana, agave, sarsaparilla, and licorice, leading to a medium-length spicy finish with notes of butter crème, chipotle, roasted black pepper, and cayenne. December 2019

Day 17 of the advent calendar. Sampled neat. The aroma is more reminiscent of tequila, with hints of agave and oak. On the palate, it strongly resembles tequila rather than mezcal, which is somewhat disappointing. After more sips, subtle vanilla notes emerge. I don't dislike it, but I generally prefer younger spirits. It's surprising it received a 93 rating from TW; perhaps more people here favor tequila.

Let stand for approximately five minutes. Appearance: Pale blonde with sunlit grassy flecks; legs are initially robust but fade quickly. Aroma: Sweet with smoky hints reminiscent of pineapple, slightly plastic-like. Palate: Very oily and creamy, with minimal flavor. Finish: Almost no lingering sensation, flavor dissipates rapidly.

More like a fine añejo tequila, smooth with a bit of spice but not smoky. I also sampled the Joven and Reposado, which yielded similar results.

Slightly floral with mild peppery notes. An orange aftertaste.