Nuestras Raíces (“Our Roots”) is a limited release from Cazcanes, a well-made and very premium-priced tequila brand, produced by master distiller Humberto Alvarado at his home distillery, Agave La Magdalena de Mexico, located in the tropical dry forest of Jalisco, La Estancita. It is neither a tequila nor a mezcal because it was not produced at an officially registered distillery for either spirit. This “agave spirit” is made from Blue Weber agave harvested in the Jalisco Valley which is then chopped by hand using axes before being cooked over direct flame in a steel oven autoclave. The aguamiel is extracted using a shredder running on a 1970s Chevrolet inline 6-cylinder engine and it’s then fermented in stainless steel tanks using natural yeast. It is 2x-distilled in a stainless steel pot still with a copper coil. It is brought to its bottling 94 proof (47% ABV) using volcanic spring water from the Sierra Madre Occidental (volcanic stone) trucked in from the Navichi Springs in Hostotipaquillo, northern Jalisco.
The batch under review is #NR2501 and is bottle #4265. This review is based on multiple tastings using a Denver & Liely Mezcal glass over 2½ months.
COLOR: Crystal clear with shards of silver in the light
AROMA PROFILE: Deeply sweet agave notes, a kick of minerality (stones alongside a fast-running creek) & salinity, vegetal notes (green bell pepper, freshly cut grass, eucalyptus), herbal notes (basil & mint), honeysuckle, fresh lime & grapefruit peel/zest, sweet cinnamon, light cloves, & white pepper – Super earthy profile.
PALATE: Delicious & earthy – Bright citrus & citrus zest/peel (lemon, lime, grapefruit), sweet cooked agave & baking spices (tons of agave), green bell pepper & green jalapeño pepper (the mesocarp, not the seeds), basil & mint, heavy minerality & salinity, summer melons, white & black pepper, & closes with a distinct, heavy sweetness, very light smoke, & a malolactic “cheesy” note akin to a hard rind Italian cheese like pecorino.
MOUTHFEEL: Extremely viscous/full with slow, thick tears in the glass
FINISH: Very long – 13-15 seconds at least
VALUE: Fantastic quality but pricy with an MSRP around $110.
ALWAYS ON SHELF/BUY AGAIN? I bought several bottles, I like this that much.
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