Review 159: Los Nahuales Reposado Mezcal

This is the slightly younger brother of the excellent Los Nahuales anejo mezcal I reviewed last time. The reposado is probably around a year old, while the anejo is probably closer to two. Both exhibit maturity which, thinking in a Scotch maturation timescale, is well beyond their years. Let's get to it!

Los Nahuales Reposado Mezcal

Color: Amber +0

ABV: 42.8%

Aroma Neat:
Mesquite Chips/Smoke, Light Agave Syrup, Light Grassy Honey/Hay, Lemon Pith (slight lime), Salty Brine, Zucchini (starchy, vegetal), Chopped Apples, Cinnamon/Nutmeg (slightly), White Pepper, Carnitas, Milled Corn/Cornstarch.

Lighter than its anejo brother, which makes it more refreshing. I'd take this reposado on a hot evening before dinner and have the anejo for desert, once the air is cool. I'm actually reminded a bit of Caol Ila because of the lemon, smoke, and salt. If you know my preferences, then you know that's a very big plus in my book!

Aroma Water:
Fresh Agave/Aloe, Lemony Honey, French Vanilla (thinly), Salty Brine (some pickle juice), Juniper Bark, Wood Smoke (mesquite, French oak), Carbon Paper, Light Barrel Char/Charcoal Smoke, Sweet Syrupy Sap.

This mezcal becomes very delicate with the addition of water. The smokiness recedes and the subtler agave and wood notes emerge.

Taste Neat:
Charred Oak, Mesquite/Juniper Cinders/Ash, Charcoal Dust, White Pepper, Coriander, Fresh Cinnamon Sticks, Honeyed French Vanilla, Pine Sap/Needles, Capers (very slightly).

Spicy, charred, and woody at first, before turning sweet and soothing. Like the nose, this reposado lacks the richness of the anejo, but the development on the palate is more dynamic and fun. I think that's in good keeping with the character of this mezcal. It's almost effervescent at times. A bit like a fresh gin!

Taste Water:
Honey, Roasted Agave, Fresh/Floral Gin/Juniper, Barbecue/Mesquite Smoke, Coriander, Cinnamon, White Pepper, Cactus/Aloe, Zucchini, Vanilla.

Quite light, with an easy honeyed sweetness and complex spiciness intermingling.

Finish:
Fresh Juniper/Gin, Ashy Honey, Marshmallow Root/Vanilla, Ashy Oak (sweet, round, nutty), Charcoal Smoke.

The finish is complex and diverse tasting, but also very clean and cleansing. The duration is medium, after which another sip is hard to resist!

Conclusion:
Complex nose with smoke, fruit, salt, spice, and vegetal elements. A winner!

Complex, dynamic, and refreshingly smoky/spicy/sweet palate.

Cleansingly effervescent finish, which is a bit gin-like (but smoky too!).

Rating: 90/100

Absolutely delicious liquid. The quality of these bottles is sky-high and there is of course the added thrill of tasting a completely different spirit from whisky. I think I'm going to have to buy some extra bottles of both the anejo and reposado Los Nahuales for future enjoyment!

Salud!

Josh