Got to experience an amazing tasting with good friends and some great expressions at the 5 Sentidos tasting room recently. We tasted in reverse order (so first listed was last consumed.) One for the good memories book.

Chino - Pechuga de Mole - Pechuga Minas - Ensamble de 4 Magueys - Pechuga de Fresas Pavo - Coyote - Coyote - Cuiche Tepeztate - Tobala - Jabali - Espadin - Cucharillo y Espadin - Espadin y Tobasiche - Marteno con Espadin

Last night 8 of us got together to share our joint collection of mezcals. They ranged from cheap to pretty expensive, from the well known commercials to rawhide fermented, and from ensambles and a variety of single-species agaves. We scored them for taste and aroma, drank water between lots and so on. We only took a little of each to ensure we did not end up wasted. At the the end we summed the scores. And we were all well surprised. The top joint winners were also the cheapest: Mitre Origin and Mil Diablos and by far the worst (nobody liked neither the aroma nor the taste) was the Amaras espadin tobala. Also in the top five were Rey de Matatlan Quixe but this is more than 5 times the price of the winners. And the real surprise was that the ensamble and espadin both from Montelobos and the Creyente cristallino were also in the top 5. Seems that the big industrial producers are making a likeable product.

Anyone know what liquor store in Tulsa would have the best mezcal selection? I'm going to be there for several hours tomorrow and where I live doesn't have much in the way of mezcal. Thanks!

I’ve got a few bottles of Mezcal but mostly Espadin or Cenizo. Was considering Los Vecinos Tobala for around USD65 equivalent and the Ensamble for around USD55 to add some variety to my collection. These are sale prices and I consider it reasonable for Mezcal in Australia I would say. It’s generally difficult to find good variety at a reasonable price.

I know it’s Sazerac but difficult to find any reviews or opinions on these expressions. Anyone had any experience with these? Thanks..

What do yall know about this?

Hi all! I’m thinking of treating my husband to said mezcal but I just saw that 5Sentidos just released a new small batch called Cinco Sentidos Tobalá con Cucharilla Mezcal - 2024. Should I get the regular 5Sentidos Tobalá for him or has anyone tried this new Tobalá and think it’s better? Thanks!

Cinco Sentidos Arrequeno for $79 Gusto histórico Tobala for $49 Free shipping around the country.

Seems too good to be true, so want to see if anyone has ordered from here and is able to share their experience.

https://nabait.com/product/5-sentidos-arroqueno-mezcal/

Told my brother to sip and not take it as a shot. He didn’t listen.😂

Just found in my dad’s basement. Should I drink this? Or keep it sealed.

Picked up these two bottles in Cancun! I’ve seen a number of reviews on Bruxo’s No. 2 mezcal but nearly nothing on their “Receta Inicial”. Wondering if anyone has tried either of these two and what their opinions of them are!

I tried this sotol in a bar in mexico and am dying to find it here in the USA. Every time I look it up I can’t even find anything that says it exists. Can anyone help?

There are a couple recent posts on Punch by Emma Janzen re mezcal that are quite useful and thoughtful. They make a great primer for anyone new to this sub posting a shelf shot and a "what should I buy?" post, the bottom one below in particular helping the buyer to read a label, sniff out BS and make a semi-informed decision.

One is on producers to know.

One is a guide to buying mezcal.

We are truly fortunate to have Emma covering mezcal, as she approaches it journalistically, critically and with a high degree of professional integrity. That's rare in any form of food and beverage journalism these days.

(original posted in Tequila thread)

Have a business trip to Mexico City coming up. Any recommendations on stores to buy hard to find / good prices tequila or mezcal? (Also recommendations on bottles that are super hard to find in the states are welcome!)

Trump just announced today that he is imposing 25% tariffs on ALL products as one of his first acts after his January 20, 2025 inauguration.

I wish I had found this thus sub much sooner. Relatively new to mezcal, I've thoroughly enjoyed tequila for as long as I can remember, but mezcal has given me new horizons to venture to. I've only ever had Montelobos Espadin (which doesn't sound to be too popular) and MI Mama Me Dijo which is I guess a Total Wine special. While I more or less enjoyed both, I was hoping to find more something different (primarily for me to keep tasting others) for a holiday party next weekend, that is within the similar price range of $40-60. Total wine is the best i can do in my area (Washington) Browsing through I've seen that quality is a bit more pricey, but it is broke boy winter, and just trying to get a little extra holiday cheer to myself and other members. I am in the air force reserves so it is our drill weekend and holiday party mixed. Advice is welcomed.

I recently asked which Agave/Maguey produces your favourite Mezcal, where an overwhelming majority recommended to give Tepeztate a try, which I did. Got my hands on a sample of La Medida's Tepeztate and I loved it!

Now the follow-up question is: which brand(s) do you recommend? Which one produces nice (or your favourite) Tepeztate Mezcal?

https://www.mezcalreviews.com/mezcal/la-higuera-texanum/#:\~:text=This%20spirit%20has%20notes%20of,full%20body%20and%20velvety%20finish.

I am certainly curious on this one, as I loved the Wheeleri and Leiophyllum bottles. The cedrosanum tasted a little too salty for me to purchase though. No bars near me carry the Texanum to try and I'm very curious on it and thinking of asking my partner for it as a graduation gift, however it's the priciest of the brand's and I can't try it beforehand. The reviews are also not great compared to the others. Has anyone tried this and can give a quick opinion, or maybe compare it to the rest of the range?

Like the title states I’m looking for a mezcal that’s good to make cocktails with? They requested mezcal so I’m trying to find something worth mixing.

I got it last year in oaxaca and loving every drop of it. Just enjoying the last few sips. As people mentioned here, it doesn't have a long shelf life, but definitely one of the most unique mezcals I've had. Highly recommended, though probably not for everyone.

Every year for my birthday I ball out on an expensive bottle of booze. I usually switch up the type of spirit because I like them all. This year I am picking an agave spirit that’s not tequila. I am between, La Venenosa Puntas, Tutsi, or El Jolgorio Pechuga Navideña.

I am open to any and all suggestions. I just really love big, bold, bombastic flavors that are once in a bottle type of experience.

I didn't get the heavy gasoline nose/palate with Chacolo Azul or CC 46 Azul, but I got it heavily with Rey Campero Tepexate and El Jolgorio Espadin. It's a thing that doesn't work for me, but I am really interested in learning about (and enjoying) more Mezcales.

I recently delved into the world of mezcal. As part of this journey, I purchased a bottle of Del Maguey Vida Clásico, anticipating the signature smokiness mezcal is known for. When I sipped it neat, the intense smokiness didn’t surprise me, but I was completely caught off guard by a distinct burnt tire or burnt rubber taste.

I tried masking the flavor by making a well-known cocktail, The Division Bell. Unfortunately, the bitterness and that odd burnt rubber note still came through in the finish.

Is this taste normal for this particular bottle, or could there be a problem with it? Any tips on how to minimize this flavor and better enjoy the mezcal?