Tasted neat from a glencairn. The pour was allowed to rest for a while after the pour. This is from a fresh bottle as I begin to explore mezcals. This is a liquor with which I've had little experience and I don't understand why I waited. The combination of vegetal and phenol elements hooked me. I sense this could get expensive...
This is the fourth mezcal I've tried and is easily the best so far. The aromas from the glass are complex and delightful. I get fresh grapefruit, mint, cactus, cut grass, plastic (think cheap rain poncho), ethanol and oil smoke. It's both an assault on the senses and an Alice-in-Wonderland experience and I'm enjoying the ride.
Mouthfeel is rich and creamy. The palate is lush with sweet syrup, smoky ash, agave, lemons, ruby grapefruit, green bell pepper, black pepper and a touch of capsacin.
The finish has a lovely fade, leaving a sweet film on the lips and a gentle warming in the throat. I find this to be an easy drinking expression of what has to be one of the more polarizing liquors.
I can easily see how mezcal can be a love it or hate it thing. I can't get away from the echoes of Islay. I like the category and I really like this expression. It's bracing, refreshing, relaxed and challenging all at once.
My ratings 1 = simply horrible and 5 = a perfect expression with the bell curve predicting most average liquors will land between 2 and 3. 4 stars and above represent the very best of what I've had and easily land on my "buy again" list. This Del Maguey Chichicapa expression belongs near the top.