Mezcal 2021
 

Mezcal - 2021

The Fifty Best Mezcal Tasting 2021

 

The Tasting:
The Fifty Best held a “blind” tasting of 6 mezcals with 10 members of our spirits judging panel. The order of service was established beforehand by lottery. Strict tasting rules were applied. 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 highest. Double-Gold, Gold medals and Silver are awarded according to a set range of final point scores received from the judges. There were no 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 and municipalities of origin are identified for each mezcal.

 

DOUBLE-GOLD MEDAL WINNERS

Zignum Mezcal Reposado
Agave Species: Espadín
(Oaxaca) 80° proof

Aroma: Butterscotch, dark chocolate, hints of caramel, brown sugar, toasted agave, vanilla, grape bubble gum, honey, strawberry, fruit roll up, golden apple, melon, citrus, mint, toasted pine nuts, tobacco, wood, oak.

Palate: Sweet caramel, toffee, chocolate, vanilla, demerara, brown sugar, maple syrup, honey, dried fruit, apple, light agave, rose petals, almond, nutty, nutmeg, spicy, earth, hint of smoke, oak, bourbon barrel, rich, silky, creamy, super smooth.

Finish: Caramel, whipped cream, buttery, vanilla, sweetened prunes, sweet fig, grape soda, rose petals, spice, beautifully balanced, nice, smooth, yummy.

Double Gold Medal
   Double Gold medal



   Zignum Mezcal Reposado



Koch el Mezcal Ancestral Joven
Agave Species: Maguey Espadín
(Oaxaca) 94° proof

Aroma: Toffee, charred pineapple, spicy piña, ripe tropical fruits, coconut, orange, lemon, hints of citrus, honey, cream, buttered popcorn, honeysuckle, mountain flowers, celery leaf, hint of brine, wet gravel, smoky, wood.

Palate: Toffee, charred pineapple, citrus, tropical fruit, raisin, roasted agave, vegetal, basil, herbal, herbaceous, floral, perfume, mint, licorice, mineral, brine, peat moss, earth, soil, smoke, nicely blended, creamy, silky, very smooth.

Finish: Caramelized apple, lemon rind, citrus, floral, herbs, thyme, hint of mint, sweet pepper, white pepper, peppery, wet gravel, red soil, mulch, smoky, nice, soft, smooth, zesty, gin-like.


Double Gold Medal
   Double Gold medal



   Koch el Mezcal Ancestral Joven



GOLD MEDAL WINNERS

Grulani Mezcal Artesanal Joven

Agave Species: Coyote
(Oaxaca) 92° proof

Aroma: Espadín agave, green olive, mushrooms, Roquefort, raisins, citrus, rose, herbal, eucalyptus, menthol, black pepper, peppery, tobacco leaf, leathery, earth, wet stone, wet wood, brine, smoke, hickory, oak.

Palate: Agave, dried fruit, ripe dates, cocoa, brown sugar, pear, almond, dough, floral, herbal, spearmint, grass, green pepper, spicy, black pepper, tobacco, wet stone, earth, brine, smoke, cedar box, sandalwood, soft.

Finish: Lingering agave, hints of pineapple, walnuts, tobacco, grassy, minty, pepper, black pepper, spice, wet stone, smoky, woody, well balanced, smooth, soft, elegant.


Gold Medal
Gold medal



Grulani Mezcal Artesanal Coyote Joven



Grulani Mezcal Artesanal Joven
Agave Species: Tepeztate
(Oaxaca) 92° proof

Aroma: Pineapple, ripe agave, marzipan, floral, herbal, grassy, vegetal, green olives, pepper, chipotle, mineral, flinty, briny, charcoal, char, smoke, light wood.

Palate: Agave, honey, lemon, citrus, herbal, nutty, jalapeño, chipotle pepper, spice, smoked brisket, smoked BBQ, sweet BBQ, bog, earth, soil, bonfire, smoky, woody, balanced, smooth.

Finish: Bell pepper, mushrooms, herbs, spice, nutty, lingering grass, mineral, briny, earth, wet camp fire, fireplace, smoky, hickory, woody, cedar, nice heat, creamy, smooth.


Gold Medal
Gold medal



   Grulani Mezcal Artesanal Tepeztate Joven



Zignum Mezcal Añejo
Agave Species: Espadín
(Oaxaca) 80° proof

Aroma: Caramel, brown sugar, tropical fruit, ripe banana, dried figs, candied cherry, lemon curd, vanilla, honey, cooked agave, peach, green apple, citrus, dough, clay pot, mulch, earth, woody.

Palate: Toffee, caramel, buttery, butterscotch, sugar cane, honey, sweet dried fruit, dates, fruit compote, pīna, melon, citrus, herbal, vanilla, nutty, light tobacco, earth, briny, cedar, oak, bourbon.

Finish: Toffee, brown sugar, buttery, vanilla, honey, ripe banana leaf, herbs, smoky, smooth, very pretty, beautiful.


Gold Medal
Gold medal



   Zignum Mezcal Añejo



SILVER MEDAL WINNER

San Juan del Rio Mezcal Blanco

Agave Species: Espadín
(Oaxaca) 80° proof

Aroma: Ripe pineapple, cooked agave, peach, ripe melon, raisins, herbaceous, eucalyptus, leafy, vegetal, greenhouse, grassy, green pepper, wet stone, saline, peat moss, bonfire, smoke, beef jerky.

Palate: Caramelized bananas, charred grapefruit peel & pith, floral, herbaceous, vegetal, cilantro, eucalyptus, nutty, spices, peppery, saline, smoked bacon, smoky, peat, earth, toast, creamy, nicely sweet, well-balanced.

Finish: Lingering caramel, honey, raisins, floral, herbs, pepper, vegetal, saline, beef, tobacco, clay pot, smoke, zesty, smooth, savory, great.


Silver Medal
Silver medal



San Juan del Rio Mezcal Blanco

 

 

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