Real Minero Largo

I'm quite new to this spirit, and most of my prior experience involved an evening with a friend who guided me through a mezcal and tequila tasting, which broadened my appreciation for this category. He was also generous enough to share a few samples, including this one for me to try and review. This is my first mezcal review, so please be gentle. The aroma begins with a very smoky quality, akin to walking into a bowling alley, followed by vegetal notes, clay, black peppercorns, some lime, eucalyptus, and vanilla sweetness with a mild ethanol burn. The taste has a medium-full mouthfeel, starting with smoked limes, eucalyptus, then olive oil-coated grilled vegetables that are slightly over-charred, and a subtle minerality with a light ethanol bite before finishing long with the essence of an old cigar resting in an ashtray, flint minerals, clay, and a sweetness of lime, eucalyptus, and vanilla that lingers for minutes. I'm uncertain if my tasting notes convey my enjoyment of this spirit, but I genuinely appreciate how the smoke blends with vegetal notes and a slight fruity sweetness. Initially, I was hesitant, but as time passed, I found myself liking this more and more. However, upon checking the price of $150, I would rather allocate my funds towards a very smoky whisky, such as a Laphroaig Quarter Cask or Lore.

Batch No. RML-07, 48.9% abv Immediately, there are roasted peanuts on the nose. Along with the peanuts, I detected coconut, lime, slightly floral, slightly vegetal, and slightly minty. The aromas are very nuanced and delicate. The taste is equally nuanced and balanced perfectly. Vegetal like fresh lightly roasted greens, spearmint and wintergreen minty notes, there is a citrus element peeking through, some tropical notes….there is a lot happening here, but it's all so delicate and nuanced, showcasing the superb talents of the mezcalero. Very creamy mouthfeel, and the minty and vegetal finish lasts for what feels like days. I can’t get enough of this finish! Also, if you happen to burp, it tastes like peanuts. This is a superbly crafted mezcal and is dangerously smooth. I can’t say enough about this mezcal and look forward to seeing how the spirit evolves during the lifespan of my bottle. 5/5 stars without reservation.

The nose is vegetal and smoky, and the body certainly delivers. It has some fruity punch that's a bit like cherry cough syrup. There's a fair amount of complexity here and the flavor is full, but the iodine is excessively strong. This is a drink for manly men. There is some interesting richness that reminds me of Laphroaig 10, but I think the Laphroaig is better (and much cheaper!). I guess I'm not really a mezcal fan.

Nice, has vegetal notes, just a bit harsh initially, but a pleasant long finish with some licorice flavors.

Nose: green pepper, hot earth, garden Palate: heavy green vegetable, hot on the tongue.

Intensely tropical. Improves with time. From a virtual tasting using Tahona.