Review 160: Del Maguey San Luis Del Rio Mezcal

Del Maguey puts out a lot of "single village" mezcals, which seems really fun. San Luis Del Rio is the only release I've tasted so far, but I'm looking forward to tasting many more! Unlike my previous mezcal reviews, San Luis Del Rio is a blanco mezcal. It's totally clear in color because it's never touched the inside of a barrel. Don't let that scare you off, because it tastes great!

Del Maguey San Luis Del Rio Mezcal

Color: Clear!

ABV: 47%

Aroma Neat:
Light Honey, Lemon, Lime (slightly), Pepper (black and white), Bell Peppers (sweeter red and yellow ones), Breakfast Tea, Cabbage (sauerkraut), Apple Cider Vinegar, Burnt Mesquite Chips, Tangy Smoke, Barbecued Meats, Cardamom, Vegetable/Olive Oil.

Surprisingly gentle and rounded and not just for unaged spirit, but for any spirit! Quite a diverse nose, which seems to be a pattern with good mezcal.

Aroma Water:
Cucumber, Bell Peppers, Agave Juice, Thin Honey, Candle Wax, Smoke (just a wisp), Dilute Vinegar, Olive Oil, Prickly Pear, Pears (slightly, I swear!), Applesauce, Black Pepper/Capsaicin (slightly), Mushrooms (slightly).
 
Very gentle and welcoming with water. There is a general smoothness, with vegetal and lightly sweet notes somewhat displacing the spicy and smoky notes. It's a tad fruitier now as well.

Taste Neat:
Charcoal Smoke/Ash, Aromatic Wood (mesquite and juniper), Heavy Tar, Honey, Starchy/Vegetal Agave, Spicy Black Pepper, Green Chile.

Even though this have never matured in wood, there is woody and smoky character in abundance. This comes from how the mezcal hearts are roasted. It's a cool process! Anyway, the palate is woody, smoky, sweet, vegetal, and nicely spicy. Very tasty and not at all "hot."

Taste Water:
Roasted Vegetables, Sweet Agave Juice, Honey, Lemon (slightly), Grill Char, Woody Mesquite Ash, Barbecued Meats, Mustard Seed, Green Chili, Browned Apple Slices, Earthy (mushrooms).

Not too disparate from neat, but as with the nose the heavy smoky notes lift a touch, allowing lighter fruity and vegetal notes to emerge.

Finish:
Bonfire Ash, Dirty Desert Honey, Bell Peppers (sweet), Olive Oil (coating), Black Pepper.

Spicy smoky, then sweeter and vegetal. Good evolution! A nice mouthfeel throughout the medium duration.

Conclusion:
Very diverse tasting spirit.

Quality throughout the nose, mouth, and finish.

Shows how good unaged spirits can be!

Rating: 87/100

Don't pull out the torches, but I don't think that I've ever had a malt or grain new make that tasted this good. Yum! Maybe I should start Joshzie's Mezcal Blog as a follow-on...

Josh