Review 161: Trader Joe's Mezcal

It's mezcal. It's from Trader Joes's. It's affordable. Let's taste!

Trader Joe's Mezcal

Color: Amber -2

ABV: 40%

Aroma Neat: 
Sweet Agave, Simple Syrup, Peppery Pine Sap (hops too?), Peppermint Oil, Light Desert Honey, Cactus Flesh/Aloe, Lemony Pith, Vanilla (lightly smoked), Toasted Oak (slightly).

This is probably more a typical "sickly-sweet" mezcal, as I've found some of the cheaper mezcal's and tequilas to be. That's not my favorite characteristic, but overall the nose is pretty decent and not harsh.

Aroma Water:
Aloe/Cactus, Agave Juice, Peppermint/Honey Liqueur, Mineral Water, Clay/Dirt, Vanilla Bean, Lemon Custard, Grilled Meat (slightly), Oaky Corkboard, Hot Chili, Black Pepper.

Less sweet and more open/complex that neat. Creamier. A nice improvement, but don't add too much water! At 40% it doesn't need much.

Taste Neat:
Sweet Agave Nectar, Black Pepper, Light Vanilla-Infused Honey, Wood Smoke (a whisp), Cooked Cabbage, Mineralic Barrel Char, Lime Skin (slightly).

Certainly a mezcal, with nice smoke and some biting wood notes. Not as robust or complex as the Del Maguey or Los Nahuales mexcals, but still a good drink. At this price point, it wouldn't be a sin to use this in a mixed drink, but it's fine on its own.

Taste Water:
Lemon Pepper, Oak Smoke/Barrel Char, Cooked Agave, Dirt, Vanilla, Mineral Water, Salted Limes (margaritas anyone?), Olive Oil, Gasoline (very slightly, and in a good way).

Am I losing it? Things seems a little more forceful on the palate with a few drops of water. The sweetness of the agave fades and is replaced by spice, smoke, and wood. Not bad!

Finish:
Charred Oak, Ashy Fireplace Cinders, Pepper, Sweet Agave, Vegetable Oil, Cooked Cabbage.

The bulk of the finish is a bit short, but smoky agave notes linger (which are the key elements of mezcal, to my mind).

Conclusion:
A middling mezcal, but still a good spirit.

Certainly worth 20 USD, especially as an intro to mezcal.

Overall a good inclusion to the Trader Joe's liquor lineup.

Rating: 80/100

Trader Joe's mezcal is an affordable way to introduce yourself or another to mezcal. I'd recommend this, provided you add just a few drops of water to you dram!

Josh