Scorpion Mezcal Reposado

* My bottle: Lot no. 101-C, bottle 5373/6300. Aroma: Wood, agave, caramel, vanilla - pleasant but very muted and reminiscent of a blended whisky. The dry glass has a very faint soft smoky aroma. Taste: Soft and silky entry. The development brings out a lot of caramel and fruit salad, a little pepper and syrupy sweetness. I sensed very little if any smokiness in the taste, unlike the official notes, but there is an earthy quality. Finish: Medium. Sweet and fruity-vegetal with a lingering honey-water note. This took me by surprise and was nothing like I expected. When a spirit is called "Scorpion", is packaged in a textured glass bottle with a glossy label, has a toy sombrero on the neck and contains a dead arachnid - well, you don't hold out high hopes. I had thought it would be a pretty poor bottom-shelf product but it was much better than anticipated. It's one of the most relaxed and unchallenging mezcals I've tasted - almost more like a reposado tequila. It's perfectly enjoyable, if a little lacking in character, very affordable and easy to drink which is not surprising considering the low abv (in Australia this is only 37%). Adding water brings out a tiny amount of spice, but drowns it instantly. Quite nice as an everyday sipper when you don't feel like a challenge, and probably very good as a mixer, although it might be too subtle in a cocktail. My chief dislike is the dead scorpion in the bottle which is distasteful and unnecessary. I suppose it sells more bottles but it's a shame because this is a good product that does not require gimmicky marketing. It would be interesting to see how this was rated by critics if it was marketed in a more restrained and artisan manner without the dead arthropod. "Above Average": 82/100 (3.25 stars)

Quite potent. Will be used in mixed drinks.

Prepared as a Mezcal Old Fashioned.