Agave Spirits+ Journey

Produced at the distillery (palenque) of 4th generation mezcal master distiller Oscar Hernández in Santiago Matatlán, Oaxaca, this mezcal is made from mature, 8-year-old Espadín/Angustifolia agave. It is aged for 2-3 months in American White Oak barrels, taking on aspects of light wood aging without losing the punchy earthiness of the Espadín.

The agave is cooked for four days in a conical stone oven and is covered with agave fibers to smoke roast. A horse-drawn tahona stone extracts the aguamiel after the roasted agave is hand chopped. Pine vats are used with wild yeast to ferment for 12-15 days before the mezcal is 2x-distilled in 300-liter capacity copper pot stills. This bottle is from lote (lot/batch) #01R 25.

A light gold/straw yellow, this mezcal has medium-long viscosity in the glass and a creamy mouthfeel. I’ll write a full review later, but initial tasting notes include aromas and flavors of earthy, musky agave, pine resin, moderate smokiness, orange zest, baking spices, florality, tobacco, hints of caramel and vanilla, nuttiness (almonds and macadamia), summer melons, herbs/mint, cherry skin tannins, cloves, some anise, and a kick of black pepper. It is a delicious lightly aged Oaxacan mezcal with a long finish; vestiges of smoke remain moderately on the back palate for quite some time after.

Using one of my Denver & Liely Mezcal Glasses (of course!) – it highlights the aromas extremely well, aiding the perception of this mezcal’s myriad of flavors on the palate. They make, hands down, the BEST tequila/mezcal glass.

_______________

1792 Bourbon Agave Spirits American Single Malts American Whisky ArteNOM Añejo Tequila Blanco Tequila Blended Whisky Bourbon Whisky Bruichladdich Buffalo Trace Cocktails Código 1530 (Codigo 1530) Dulce Vida E.H. Taylor Elijah Craig El Tesoro Extra Añejo Tequila Four Roses Gin Glassware Glenlivet Irish Whisky Limestone Branch Distillery Liqueurs Lost Lore Maker's Mark Mezcal Mijenta Mt. Defiance Distillery Patrón Penelope Reposado Tequila Reviews Rye Whisky Scotch Whisky Siempre Single Malt Whisky Spirits Tequila Tequila Ocho Tequila Partida Virginia Virginia Distillery Company Whisky