Mezcal Vago Espadin

Tasted neat from a small snifter. This mezcal presents intensely vegetal, leafy scents with a sweet agave base. The ethanol isn't as prominent as in other mezcals I've tried. On the palate, it's clean and smoky, with a slight sweetness and notes of coriander and celery salt. I believe this would make an exceptional base for a very rich and complex cocktail. It's also quite pleasant on its own. The finish quickly fades with a blend of sweet syrup and black pepper, leaving a thin, sweet coating. Surprisingly, for a 100 proof drink, it doesn't feel quite that strong. It has a very clean exit with a hint of smokiness and some minerality on the exhale. My limited experience with mezcal should be considered when evaluating my rating. This is a very intriguing liquor, and this particular expression is both complex and enjoyable.

This is the first mezcal I have ever sampled (if you are strict, not counting tequila), and genuinely, it is unlike any other liquor I have encountered. Mine comes from a May 2017 batch produced by Joel Barriga. It is 50.7% ABV. I must confess, the aroma isn't entirely pleasing to me; I perceive it as similar to tire rubber, but more intense. It's not necessarily awful, just not very inviting. From that point onward, however, everything is fantastic. Smoke is noticeable right from the start. Equally present is a sweet, plant-like taste with hints of rubber band (a descriptor I never imagined using for a drink). The smoke persists through the finish, with the plant-like and rubber notes exchanging dominance before gradually disappearing, the smoke and rubber vying for attention as they linger. I anticipated something akin to tequila, given they are both spirits made from agave. This is an entirely different entity, and a remarkable one at that.

The aroma shifts between butterscotch and a cheesy jalapeño scent, like jalapeño poppers. The taste is very vegetal, with notes of jalapeño peppers, roasted agave, and a hint of wintergreen mint, complemented by some caramel sweetness. The finish is very vegetal but coated in raw honey with a sprinkle of black pepper. It's a bit intense, as most are, but I anticipate it will mellow out as the bottle is consumed. An excellent espadin, as one would expect from this producer.

Floral cactus, like inhaling a cluster of needles, an oasis of trouble. Tastes like dehydrated mung fruit from a sweaty, uninhabitable tropical place, earthy, fizzy, pungent... reminiscent of the smell in a room after intense intimacy, you can sense the residue in the air. Cunning, alluring, bold, with a hint of latex... this is small-town, uninhibited, explicit content in a bottle.

There's a faint gasoline aroma, but it goes down surprisingly smooth. Flavors of banana and berries are present. It has a pleasant spicy finish with a lingering hint of vanilla. It's not an adventurous mezcal, but it's a solid choice for general enjoyment.

Mezcal Vago (Espadin from Emigdio) Nose - fruity Palate - fruity, banana, light spice Finish - slight spice but quite smooth, medium length Overall - an interesting fruity taste initially, but otherwise unremarkable