Mezcal 2014
 

Best Mezcal 2014

 

The Fifty Best Mezcal Tasting of 2014

 

The Tasting:
The Fifty Best held a “blind” tasting of 14 mezcals with 17 pre-qualified judges. Jovens, Reposados and Añejos were judged separately in three individual categories. Strict tasting rules were applied. The order of service was established beforehand by lottery. Each of the mezcals were poured into fresh glasses from new sealed bottles, and served at slightly above room temperature. Only ice water, neutral unflavored crackers and chips were available to cleanse the palate.

The judges wrote down their impressions of each product on score sheets. The scoring was done on a 5-point system, with 5 as the best. Double-Gold, Gold and Silver medals are awarded based on a set range of final point scores received from the judges. There were no bronze medals awarded for this tasting.

The tasting notes which follow are summaries of the judging panels’ opinions. The region of origin in Mexico and agave species are identified for each mezcal.

 

Here are the final results:



JOVEN

DOUBLE-GOLD MEDAL WINNER:

Mestizo
Joven

Region: Santiago Matatlán, Oaxaca
Agave Species: Espadín

Nose: Tropical fruit, banana, vanilla, butter, perfumed, floral, tropical flowers, hibiscus, sweet herbs, nutmeg, coffee, smoky.
Palate: Honey, dulcet tones, cane sugar, white toffee, nougat, creamy, caramel, herbal, spearmint, pepper, peppercorns, smooth, silky, light smoke, complex, well-balanced, silky, very nice, a pleasure.
Finish: Cocoa, incredibly smooth, expansive, long.

Double Gold Medal
Double Gold medal



Mestizo Joven Mezcal



Real Matlatl Tobala Joven Mezcal



GOLD MEDAL WINNERS:

Real Matlatl
Joven

Region: Santiago Matatlán, Oaxaca
Agave Species: Tobala

Nose:Banana, sweet berries, dried fruit, cinnamon, butter, cream, almost floral, briny, earthy, woody, lightly smoky.
Palate: Honey, hints of caramelized sugar, caramel, vanilla, creamy, sweet cream, cinnamon, mint, agave, pepper.
Finish: Oaky, toast, honey, licorice, peppery, long.


Gold Medal
Gold medal



Banhez
Joven

Region: San Agustín Amatengo and San Martín Lachiila, Ejutla de Crespo, Oaxaca
Agave Species: A blend of Espadín and Barril

Nose: Light cinnamon, honey, caramel, butterscotch hard candy, ripe banana peel, citrus, herbal, green vegetables, agave.
Palate: Praline, butter, caramel, riesling-like, smoky cedar, vegetal, light pepper, leather, tobacco, new wood, savory, ultra-smooth.
Finish: Clean, fresh, smooth, light, vanilla, elegant, long.

Gold Medal
Gold medal



Banhez Joven Mezcal



Desaire Joven Mezcal



Desaire
Joven

Region: Barrientos, La Pila, Oaxaca
Agave Species: A blend of Espadín and wild Bicuische

Nose: Fresh cut grass, plantain, mint, pepper, vegetative, lime, berries, faint vanilla, butterscotch, caramelized smoke.
Palate: Roasted sweet red bell pepper, hot pepper, green apple, herbal, anise, white flour, cream, floral, deep charcoal, rich wood smoke.
Finish: Peppery, tobacco, wood, soft, elegant, sweet, long.

Gold Medal
Gold medal



Jaral de Berrio
Joven

Region: San Felipe Torres Mochas, Guanajuato
Agave Species: Salmiana

Nose: Cafe au lait, cream, toffee, apples, pear, minty, almost pine, toasty.
Palate: Creamy, butternut, chocolate, dried fruit, fennel, spice, woody, rich, a pleasure.
Finish: Creamy, nougat, caramel, spice, grassy, dry, long.


Gold Medal
Gold medal



Jaral de Berrio Mezcal



Marca Negra Mezcal



Marca Negra
Joven

Region: San Juan del Rio, Oaxaca
Agave Species: Espadín

Nose: Tropical fruits, sweet banana, dried fruit, vanilla, butter, tree bark, roasted earth.
Palate: Dried herbs, sandalwood, anise, honey, praline, pepper, grassy, oak, very smoky, smooth.
Finish: Mellow, creamy vanilla, lavender, peaty scotch, smoke, builds up to late spice.


Gold Medal
Gold medal



SILVER MEDAL WINNER:

Alacrán

Joven

Region: San Dionisio, Oaxaca
Agave Species: Espadín

Nose: Vanilla, butterscotch, cola, spearmint, herbaceous, nutty, mushrooms, peppery, crisp, pleasant smoke.
Palate: Lemon, papaya, dates, anise, vegetal, mint, hot pepper, grassy undertones, honey, butter, earthy, wood, smoky, complex, rich.
Finish: Smoky, grassy, gentle spice, moderately sweet, long.


Silver Medal
Silver medal



Alacrán Mezcal



Aztecali Reposado Mezcal



REPOSADO

DOUBLE-GOLD MEDAL WINNER:

Aztecali
Reposado

Region: Zacatecas
Agave Species: Azul Tequilana Weber

Nose: Sweet cream, butter, butternut, buckwheat honey, nougat, fig, cola, slightly toasty, tobacco smoke.
Palate: Fig, nougat, praline, vanilla, butter, light coffee notes, hazelnut, straw, herbs, pepper, smooth, balanced, delicious.
Finish: Cherry almond, vanilla, nutty, hints of wood, crisp, long.

Double Gold Medal
Double Gold medal



GOLD MEDAL WINNERS:

Mestizo
Reposado

Region: Santiago Matatlán, Oaxaca
Agave Species: Espadín

Nose: Subtle lime, roasted pineapple, faint caramel, butterscotch, mineral, vegetative, bark, smoky.
Palate: Smoked tropical fruit, honey, dates, pepper, moss, Port-like, Madeira barrel, woody, smoke, tobacco.
Finish: Smooth, honey, starfruit, spicy, wood barrel.


Gold Medal
Gold medal



Mestizo Reposado Mezcal



Real Matlatl Reposado Mezcal



Real Matlatl
Reposado

Region: Santiago Matatlán, Oaxaca
Agave Species: Espadín

Nose: Vanilla, butter, wood sugars, cherry, earthy, mushroom, light mineral, refined.
Palate: Caramel, honey, brine, hot pepper, herbal, woodsy, earthy, agave, sweet, scotch-like, well-balanced.
Finish: Light spice, toast, smooth, rich, powerful, long.

Gold Medal
Gold medal



AÑEJO

DOUBLE-GOLD MEDAL WINNER:

Real Matlatl
Añejo

Region: Santiago Matatlán, Oaxaca
Agave Species: Espadín

Nose: Caramel, honey, butter, floral, jasmine, agave, smoky.
Palate: Vanilla, caramel, honey, sandalwood, floral, agave, pepper, briny, charred earth, impeccable.
Finish: Very smooth, sandalwood, caramel, spicy, smoke, short, awesome.

Double Gold Medal
Double Gold medal



Real Matlatl Añejo Mezcal



Los Amantes Añejo Mezcal



GOLD MEDAL WINNERS:

Los Amantes
Añejo

Region: Oaxaca
Agave Species: Tobala & Espadín

Nose: Butter, honeysuckle, vanilla, subtle cola, grass, herbal, agave.
Palate: Tarragon, peppercorn, hot pepper, honey, butter, caramel, herbal, earthy, charred oak, balanced.
Finish: Honey, jalapeño pepper, faint wood, smooth, complex, long.

Gold Medal
Gold medal



La Fogata
Añejo

Region: Oaxaca

Nose: Subtle lime, roasted pineapple, faint caramel, butterscotch, mineral, vegetative, bark, smoky.
Palate: Creamy vanilla, caramel, touch of cream, dried fruit, dates, soft eucalyptus, explosion of herbs, pink peppercorns, spice, hot pepper, smoked wood, elegante, magnifico.
Finish: Touch of wood, cedar, honey, smooth, long.


Gold Medal
Gold medal



La Fogata Mezcal



Mestizo Añejo Mezcal



Mestizo
Añejo

Region: Santiago Matatlán, Oaxaca
Agave Species: Espadín

Nose: Cinnamon, caramel, bell pepper, subtle tobacco, new tobacco leaf, faint oak, exceptionally clean.
Palate: Sweet spice, cinnamon, mint, caramel, fruity, dried fruit, smoked plum wine, roasted peppers, agave, tree bark, wheat.
Finish: Roasted peppers, dates, sugarcane, long.

Gold Medal
Gold medal

 

 

 

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