Mezcal 2016
 

Best Mezcal - 2016

 

The Fifty Best Mezcal Tasting of 2016

 

The Tasting:
The Fifty Best held a “blind” tasting of 15 mezcals with 18 pre-qualified judges. Jovens and Reposados were judged separately as individual categories. Strict tasting rules were applied. The order of service was established beforehand by lottery. Each of the mezcals were poured into fresh glasses from new sealed bottles, and served at slightly above room temperature. Only ice water, neutral unflavored crackers and chips were available to cleanse the palate.

The judges wrote down their impressions of each product on score sheets. The scoring was done on a 5-point system, with 5 as the best. Double-Gold and Gold medals are awarded according to a set range of final point scores received from the judges. Due to the high scores overall, there were no silver or bronze medals awarded for this tasting.

The tasting notes which follow are summaries of the judging panels’ opinions, with all replicated commentary eliminated. The agave species are identified for each mezcal.



JOVEN

DOUBLE-GOLD MEDAL WINNERS

Viejo Indecente - Madrecuixe
Agave Species: Madrecuixe

Nose: Green apples, apple cider, citrus, peach, cherries, dates, honey, creamy, nougat, honeyed herbs, herbal, grassy, sandalwood, dried herbs, cinnamon, licorice, peppercorns, white pepper, roasted pepper, habanero, mahogany, smoke.
Palate: Green apples, apple cider, citrus, peach, cherries, dates, honey, creamy, nougat, honeyed herbs, herbal, grassy, sandalwood, dried herbs, cinnamon, licorice, peppercorns, white pepper, roasted pepper, habanero, mahogany, smoke.
Finish: Layers of fruit, berries, white toffee, vanilla, creamy, spicy, peppery, agave, smooth, crisp, big and bold.

Double Gold Medal
Double Gold medal



Viejo Indecente Madrecuixe Joven Mezcal



Jaral de Berrio Joven Mezcal



Jaral de Berrio
Agave Species: Salmiana

Nose: Pralines, candy corn, cotton candy, spun white sugar, cream soda, toffee, honeydew, peach, tropical fruit, sweet floral notes, cinnamon, light herbal, anise, light plantain, olive, vegetative.
Palate: Pralines, caramel, honey, sweet cream, cream soda, peach puree, plantain, corn, dried fruit, lime zest, honeyed herb, gardenia, sweet mint, anise, vegetal tones, earthy agave, white pepper, spicy, briny, toasty, well balanced, pleasant.
Finish: Honeyed herb, creamy, sweet, peppery, jalapeño, grass, earth, mineral, clean, soft, tantalizing, elegant.


Double Gold Medal
Double Gold medal



Elixir del Corazón
Agave Species: Espadín

Nose: Vanilla, café au lait, whipped cream, cotton candy, caramel, nougat, sweet pastry, fig, pear, green apple, lemon, floral, mint, green grass, briny.
Palate: Sweet cream, creamy, vanilla, cream soda, honeyed herb, tropical flower, sweet corn, plantain, light toast, herbal, grass, jalapeño, smoky agave, toasted oak, balanced.
Finish: Pear, honey, hints of chocolate, herbs, mint, peppery, spice, silky, clean, exceptionally smooth.

Double Gold Medal
Double Gold medal



Elixir del Corazón Joven Mezcal



Marques Plata Mezcal



Marques
Agave Species: Salmiana

Nose: Butterscotch, white toffee, vanilla, fruity, pear, pineapple, raisin, mint, hints of anise, sandalwood, white linen, leather, peaty, woody, smoke, mesquite, wet stones, desert after rain.
Palate: Caramel, creamy, buttery, honey, cane sugar, papaya, orange peel, tangerine, blood orange, citrus, melon, poached pear, dried fruit, agave, plantain, sweet corn, bell pepper, fennel, herbs, toasted mint, spearmint, white pepper, spicy, stone, oak, woody, burnt wood, smoky, clean, crisp.
Finish: Toffee, caramel, maple, orange, honeyed herbs, cinnamon, white pepper, jalapeño, spicy, oak, smoke, clean, smooth, silky.

Double Gold Medal
Double Gold medal



GOLD MEDAL WINNERS

Tres Papalote
Agave Species: Wild Cupreata

Nose: Butterscotch, light citrus, melon, fruit, agave nectar, cactus, floral, herbal, mint, pepper, leather, wet clay, dry wood, smoke.
Palate: Honey, tropical fruit, pineapple, citrus, melon, fig, cherry, dried fruit, fruity, spice, cinnamon, mint, pepper, spices, stone, pine, oak, smoke, silky, smooth.
Finish: Citrus, spicy, peppery, cinnamon, tobacco, pine, smooth, well balanced.

Gold Medal
Gold medal



Tres Papalote Joven Mezcal



Sacrificio Joven Mezcal



Sacrificio
Agave Species: Espadín

Nose: Nougat, vanilla, caramel, hint of café au lait, baked plantain, popcorn, roasted agave, light olive, vegetal, chamomile, lemon zest, spearmint, wood barrel, smoky.
Palate: Pineapple, papaya, tangerine, dates, honey, roasted agave, rye, sandalwood, anise, spice, pepper, white pepper, tangy, light tobacco, wood, cedar, oak, smoke.
Finish: Light pear, agave, pepper, light herbs, spicy, embers, smoky, very soft, smooth, delicate, elegant, dry.

Gold Medal
Gold medal



Los Amantes
Agave Species: Tobala & Espadín

Nose: Vanilla, honey, honeyed herb, tropical fruit, baked apple, ripe pear, unripe banana, earthy agave, olive, grassy, dried herbs, sandalwood, hay, delicate.
Palate: Café au lait, caramel, honeysuckle, sweet fruit, peach puree, melon, agave, green olive, white pepper, floral, mint, white flour, light toast, silky, easy drinking.
Finish: Praline, sweet, butter, anise, sauterne-like, bright, crisp, elegant.

Gold Medal
Gold medal



Los Amantes Joven Mezcal



Alacrán Mezcal



Alacrán
Agave Species: Espadín

Nose: Pear, peach, banana, plantain, vanilla, buttery, creamy, licorice, lemony, earthy agave, pickled green beans, fresh cut grass, herbal, spicy, pepper, smoky.
Palate: Cream soda, vanilla, nougat, roasted agave, baked apple, herbaceous, grassy, floral, citrus-mint, touch of mint, rye, peppercorn, peppery, deep wood, smoky notes.
Finish: White toffee, hint of vanilla, a bit sweet, black pepper, peppery, spicy, herbaceous, floral notes, dry, smoky.


Gold Medal
Gold medal



Desaire Edicion Especial
Agave Species: Espadín

Nose: Baked apple, pineapple, apricot, sweet caramel, sweet cream, honey herb, citrus blossoms, tropical flower, lavender, sandalwood, olive, grassy, raw green beans, pickled jalapeño.
Palate: Honey, creamy, tropical fruits, plum, tarragon, grass, herb, sandalwood, tobacco, earthy, leather, mineral, briny, smoky.
Finish: Papaya, dried herbs, mint, light anise, olive, vegetal notes, pepper, light toast, light tobacco, wood, smoky, clean, smooth, dry.


Gold Medal
Gold medal



Desaire Edicion Especial Mezcal



Viejo Indecente Ensamble Madrecuixe & Espadin Joven Mezcal



Viejo Indecente - Madrecuixe/Espadin
Agave Species: Ensamble Madrecuixe & Espadín

Nose: Fig, dates, dried fruit, berries, pineapple, papaya, tropical, citrus, fresh green beans, olives, herbaceous, lavender, cardamom, minty, mustard seed, wheat, stony.
Palate: Tarragon, cinnamon, allspice, pepper, white pepper, honeyed herbs, pear, fig, ginger, mint, sandalwood, tobacco, earthy, slate.
Finish: Honey, buckwheat honey, tropical fruit, agave, touch of black pepper, spice, bright, hint of smoke, dry.


Gold Medal
Gold medal



Bosscal
Agave Species: Durangenesis

Nose: Earthy agave, roast pepper, plantain, fennel, anise, wheat grass, citrus, bright mint, chamomile, dried herbs, herbal, brine, mineral.
Palate: Fig, dried fruit, roasted agave, jalapeño, spice, dried herbs, floral, spearmint, earthy notes, ash, wood, bark, smoky, well balanced.
Finish: Pretty fruits, café au lait, earthy agave, herbs, cut grass, embers, smoky, super soft.


Gold Medal
Gold medal



Bosscal Joven Mezcal



Sangre de Vida Reposado Mezcal



REPOSADO

DOUBLE-GOLD MEDAL WINNERS

Sangre de Vida

Nose: Sweet cherry, lemon, melon, fruity, agave, vanilla, marzipan, almond, walnut, herbs, mint, moss, grassy, leather, earthy.
Palate: Honey, black cherry, melon, lemon, orange, citrus, fruity, smoky agave, cactus, flowers, herb, walnut, spice, mint, wet grass, grassy, moss, chocolate, tobacco, leather, smooth, clean, approachable.
Finish: Agave, vegetal, walnut, spicy, peppery, chocolate, oak, smoky, earthy, silky, soft, smooth, wonderful.

Double Gold Medal
Double Gold medal



Los Amantes
Agave Species: Tobala & Espadín

Nose: Golden cane sugar, honey, caramel, crisp apple, citrus, agave, plantain, white flower, toasted almond, toast, light leather.
Palate: Pineapple, papaya, banana, tropical fruit, fig, date, lemon meringue pie, honey, buttery, vanilla, nougat, toasted almond, light anise, agave, sandalwood, oak, woody, light smoke, balanced.
Finish: Dried herbs, dried fruit, subtle pear, creamy, soft, smooth, amazing.

Double Gold Medal
Double Gold medal



Los Amantes Resposado Mezcal



Marqués Reposado Mezcal



Marqués
Agave Species: Salmiana

Nose: Vanilla, white sugar, molasses, taffy, caramel, sweet cream, cinnamon, pineapple, honeysuckle, white rose, floral, light jasmine, citrus, spice, eucalyptus, light oak.
Palate: Cream soda, vanilla, honey, banana, tropical fruit, roasted agave, lime, citrus, tangy, cinnamon, spice, white pepper, slight pepper, bouquet of herbs, sandalwood, touch of wood, perfect wood, perfect smoke, well balanced, very appealing.
Finish: Caramel, vanilla, toast, mint, spicy, jalapeño, embers, lovely wood, soft, smooth, elegant, lingering, enjoyable, perfect, fantastic.

Double Gold Medal
Double Gold medal



GOLD MEDAL WINNER

Sacrificio
Agave Species: Espadín

Nose: Fig, banana, exceptionally fruity, vanilla notes, bread, herbaceous, licorice, root.
Palate: Honey, nougat, dried fruit, plantain, anise, fennel, agave, soft vegetal notes, tangy, spice, clove, white pepper, black pepper, wood, toasted oak, smooth.
Finish: Creamy, vanilla, honeyed herb, light spice, very smooth, clean, just right, elegant.

Gold Medal
Gold medal



 Sacrificio Reposado Mezcal

 

 

 

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