Mezcal Unión Uno

There's been significant buzz about this remarkable spirit, and I must admit the branding is excellent. However, I haven't seen many detailed tasting notes. Here are my impressions: The aroma is clean, mineral-like, with a touch of earthiness (is 'clean earthiness' an oxymoron?) and a light vegetal smoke. It also has pepper, some fruit notes like oranges, citrus, and prickly pear, and even hints of crisp vegetables. There's a faint cucumber and a clean, jalapeño-like pepper flesh character. The taste starts sweet, with the heat building to a kind of spicy, jalapeño-like sensation, supported by citrus zest, earthy notes, and a light, almost peaty smoke. You can also detect pepper, a slight char, and grilled pineapple. A subtle salinity is present. Earth and char dominate the finish, along with a peppery pith note. Keep in mind, I'm relatively new to mezcal, but for the price, which is among the lowest I've encountered for authentic mezcal, this drink is genuinely delicious. I could enjoy this all day (though the producer does note flavor variations between batches).

Oaxaca, a state in Mexico, faces challenges with low infrastructure and education, particularly away from the capital. As mezcal production grows, there's a rising concern about overproduction and a potential future shortage of agave. Union Mezcal addresses this by collaborating with numerous families across Mexico, ensuring a fair and sustainable production method. Mezcal Union Uno is a blend of farm-grown Espadin agave and wild Cirial. The Espadin contributes sweetness and floral notes, while the Cirial adds a subtle earthiness. The smoke is not overpowering, offering a pleasant campfire aroma.

It begins watery, then presents notes of lime peel, mango rind, and a little raw vanilla. Later, it develops into a medium woody smoke, some white pepper, and a noticeable minerality, especially toward the finish. The finish is medium in length, featuring smoke, mineral, and a slightly leathery final note. A pleasant combination for the cost; I would prefer it over 400 conejos anytime.

This is a very good mezcal with classic mezcal characteristics. It has a solid structure with the anticipated smoky and citrus flavors, all harmonizing well, making it an excellent choice for those new to this spirit.

Tasted this neat recently at a bar in Hollywood and really liked it. Also tried another agave spirit later that night but felt this one was slightly less intricate. This would be worth buying.

Appears clear as expected, showing even streaks from the alcohol. It smells faintly of smoke and green bell pepper. The taste mirrors these notes, perhaps with a hint of pear. It has a light to medium body and a medium-length finish.