Paid: $50 for 750ml

Distilled/Owned by: NOM-072X / Yuu Baal

Region: San Juan del Rio, Oaxaca

Mezcalero: Isaias Martinez Juan

40% ABV

Aged For: 1 Year

Agave: 100% 7-year old Espadin

Cutting/Cooking/Crushing: Machete / Stone Oven / Tahona

Fermentation / Distillation: Pine wood vats / double distilled in copper stills

Cask Type: American White Oak

Batch/Bottle # : YA04-18 / 548 of 720

Color: Yellow gold

Drank: Neat, in a copita

Nose: Roasted agave, copper, licorice, citrus, vanilla, salt, celery, touch of smoke

Feel: Medium body

Taste: Good smokey vanilla, almond, dried fruit, butter, agave, citrus, pepper, clay

Finish: Light to medium warmth, medium length, caramel, vanilla, oak, touches of fruit and a light backbone of agave and smoke

Thoughts:  Really great for the price, especially when compared to ilegal for nearly double the price!

Score: Recommended

Paid: $100

Distilled/Owned by: Destileria Tlacolula, S. de R.L. M.I.

Region: Oaxaca, Mexico

40% ABV

Aged For: 13 Months

Distillate: 10 Year old espadin agave from Tlacolula, roasted 5-7 days in an earth pit lined with stones using mesquite and eucalyptus wood, crushed by horse drawn tahona-wheel, fermented in pine vats 7-10 days then double distilled on a copper still.

Cask Type: French and American oak

Chill Filtered: ?

Addatives used: No

Color: Pale gold

Drank: Neat, in a tumbler

Nose: Smoked agave, vanilla, grass, earth, oak, honey, cream

Feel: Light bodied

Taste: Butterscotch, smoke, roasted notes, oak, milk chocolate, agave, citrus, and earth

Finish: Light warmth and medium length, a smooth buttery smokiness similar to a gently peated whisky, vanilla, cream, honey, and a touch of vegetalness

Thoughts: This is my first review of an agave based spirit, as I’m normally not a fan. I actually do enjoy this, it has notes similar to many whiskies I enjoy, while being distinctly not a whisky. Something to try if you are a fan of whisky or rum and not a tequila or mezcal drinker like myself.

Score: 85 out of 100 (Shot in the dark here, don’t place a ton in this number)