NOM1584, hence the curiousity after move from 1579. Will taste this week.
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Your overwhelming peer pressure got me to try the Pasote 1584 Blanco, poured it next to a Fortaleza Blanco Lote 136-B just so I had a measuring stick.
The nose on Pasote is really nice mid-weight cooked agave and a touch of mineral and citrus. Palate lacks viscosity and depth, oddly leans a bit sweeter contradicting the palate weight. Good, not great, not surprised as Camarena is no longer making it. Itās a buy at $30-35, not at $44.
The Fortaleza Blanco had a big nose of cooked agave, minerals and, nice weight on palate with sweet agave notes, citrus, and minerals. Excellent, going back to buy another bottle at $48 and maybe more.
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Didnāt realize that Camarena was no longer making Pasote. Havenāt bought in a while as it disappeared from my local source, then recently reappeared with updated packaging.
-Al
They switched VERY recently (maybe a few months). Many bottles on the shelves might still be from the old 1579 distillery.
Thatās a pity, was a pretty good line-up at fairly reasonable prices.
-Al
My assumption is they want to grow, and seeing bars post wholesale prices at $20 a bottle for case buys reinforces that. $45 for 1579 was fair, $45 for 1584 is a stretch, $35 is fair. Itās still good.
So no idea on quality but friends just gave me a hand signed bottle of dos hombres joven mescal. As a breaking bad fan I love it. I doubt I will open though as likely casamigos quality at best.
Had some Casa Noble Rep last night. Bought recently with the new bottle design. It definitely had a lot more Smokey taste (almost Mezcaly, if thatās a word). Wonder if they changed the formula when they changed the bottle
Ok, i picked up two bottles of Fortaleza Blanco at a local market for $45 ea. havenāt had the blanco before.
Look forward to hearing your thoughts. Please notr the Lote #.
136-B
Do you find a lot of variation in lots?
It is certainly a product that shows the harvest. Not big swings but nuance wise some have a bit more spice, some have a bit more weight.
I think its why I enjoy it as it ties into my love of wine vs. many brands that have a recipe for consistency, hence additives.
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Bartender gave me a sample of these yesterday
The first was quite good, classic, clean nose and palate, no obvious additional sweetness, just perfect for my tastes
This one had a strange new plastic scent, not sure if that would fade with air. But the palate was excellent
Going to add a personal disclaimer as a I switched roles this week from former client (Corazon, Siete Leguas, San Matias) to a new one (1800, Cuervo Family, Centenario, Dobel), so I will temper any comments moving forward or front run them with a shill warning.
Good active discussion so far.
I really appreciate all the agave insight!
Iāve really tried to like Mezcal but I just canāt get there. Same for the dirt in glass peat filled bottles of scotch.
For the tequila lovers here, is enjoying Clase Azul like enjoying Silver Oak or Caymus? Iāve read a few comments above that may think yāall might think so.
I have enjoyed it as a sipping tequila (as an after dinner drink in lieu of Bourbon or Scotch) several times.
What sipping tequilas do yāall recommend at this price point or even lower? I believe Clase Azul Reposodal is about $115 a bottle at retail in my market.
Clase Azul is really well made. If you like it drink it. The non-additive group can be fairly militant and it has a point for them, but 1% additives are allowed, so there shouldnāt be an issue. Part of additives is the transformation to make it a bit smoother and less Tequila-like or Agave forward.
At a lower price point for richer flavors there are Extra Anejos sold for the price of Clase Azul Repo, like Corralejo 3yr, El Mayor Port Finish, or Azunia 2yr. In the Repo category, big fan of Fortaleza Repo or Anejo, Reserva de la Familia Repo, Ocho Repo, or ArteNom 1146 Anejo.
On the Mezcal front try it in cocktails. Its a pretty healthy spend to buy villages and not like them, so start by replacing tequila or vodka in some cocktails or in your favorite citrus based cocktails, even for scotch in a penicillin.
Had dinner at a mexican place in Sonoma tonight. They had the range of Fortaleza. Had a pour of the reposado to remind myself. Good, very good 
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Found one today, not a bargain price, but acceptable.
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K&L just had a huge Fortaleza blanco drop this morning for anyone interested.