The Agave Thread: Tequila & Mezcal

[Kris_Patten]

Love to hear how you like it. Found a shop with an El Tesoro Paradiso I may go pick up tomorrow, hoping it may be old label, but will see tomorrow or Friday.

[Alan_Rath]

Will do, eventually, lol. I have too much open already. How would you compare the regular Anejo?

[Kris_Patten]

Heven’t seen any in the wild in 2 or 3 years.

[Alan_Rath]

Guess I should have grabbed that too lol.

[Mike_Cohen]

@JDavisRoby

I’ve really tried to like Mezcal but I just can’t 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? I’ve read a few comments above that may think y’all 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 y’all recommend at this price point or even lower? I believe Clase Azul Reposodal is about $115 a bottle at retail in my market.

I’m definitely in the camp of “drink what you like”. For me, the sweetness of Clase Azul is off putting. FWIW, it’s $140 here at the cheapest place, so $115 sounds pretty good to me if you like it.

As far as mezcal goes, I love it. And oddly enough, I’m not a fan of peaty scotches at all (or any scotch really).

Try mezcal in a Naked and Famous

.75oz Mezcal (I prefer Del Maguey Vida)
.75oz Aperol
.75oz Yellow Chartreuse
.75oz Lime Juice

Shake well over ice. Serve either up or on the rocks. Whichever you prefer.

My little modification is to use 1oz of each liquid as it gives me a minute or two longer before I have to go back and make a sequel.

[ybarselah]

late to this already amazing thread.

i was gifted a bottle of Vago Blanco y Negra ages ago, i still have 1/3 of the bottle left and i treasure it.

as someone that knows next to nothing about tequila - what do i like about this and what is a good substitute?

[Kris_Patten]

It’s Mezcal, not Tequila, and its a rare one off from 40+ year old Agave one a blanco and one negra hence the name.

Not sure what compares, but I’d be shopping in the El Jolgorio portfolio, maybe start with Sierrundo. Marca Negra makes a Mezcal from Sierra negra too.

Hope that helps…send me a 50ml when ya get a chance of the Vago!

[JulianD]

@ybarselah

i was gifted a bottle of Vago Blanco y Negra ages ago, i still have 1/3 of the bottle left and i treasure it.

Vago is great! Sadly, if the mezcalero on that bottling was Aquilino, he passed away a year or so ago.

Edit- checked, looks like it’s Tio Rey - that’s clay pot distilled, if you like that like that thickness/viscosity, go for mezcals by mezcaleros from Santa Caterina Minas (Real Minero, Lalocura, some of the 5 Sentidos lineup).

The agave used in that bottling is agave Americana - also called Sierra negra/Arroqueno- look for those, known (at least to me) for its sweetness/fruity notes

[Mike_Cohen]

This is super helpful to me…I’m a neophyte for sure.

I just bought a bottle of the Vago Elote.

Just so I’m clear, what you’re saying is that Vago is the umbrella brand for a series of small mezcaleros that make their own mezcal but it’s sold under the banner of Vago? I assume that’s the same deal with Del Maguey?

[Kris_Patten]

Vago looks for unheralded Mezcaleros or smaller productions and bottles them under Mezcal Vago. Elote has corn added during the second distillation process then removed.

@JulianD I believe the Blanca y Negra is only 1/4 negra.

[Mike_Cohen]

@Kris_Patten

Vago looks for unheralded Mezcaleros or smaller productions and bottles them under Mezcal Vago. Elote has corn added during the second distillation process then removed.

Thanks!

FWIW, I don’t think that I have a particularly good palate, I have trouble picking out specific attributes of wines/spirits, etc. But a few years back, I was at a bar in NYC and the bartender recognized that I was into cocktails. He poured me a tasting flight of different mezcals including the Vago Elote. The Elote was eye opening as you could clearly taste/smell the corn.

[JulianD]

@Mike_Cohen

Just so I’m clear, what you’re saying is that Vago is the umbrella brand for a series of small mezcaleros that make their own mezcal but it’s sold under the banner of Vago? I assume that’s the same deal with Del Maguey?

That’s correct - almost every mezcal ‘brand’ does this. Some mezcaleros even bottle under multiple labels!

Example of many mezcaleros : Maguey Melate specifically look for under-the-radar mezcaleros. Melate has a subscription service, two 375ml bottles every other month, almost always with new producers (they also have videos/background on the producer, so it’s pretty cool)

[Mike_Cohen]

@JulianD

@Mike_Cohen

Just so I’m clear, what you’re saying is that Vago is the umbrella brand for a series of small mezcaleros that make their own mezcal but it’s sold under the banner of Vago? I assume that’s the same deal with Del Maguey?

That’s correct - almost every mezcal ‘brand’ does this. Some mezcaleros even bottle under multiple labels!

Example of many mezcaleros : Maguey Melate specifically look for under-the-radar mezcaleros. Melate has a subscription service, two 375ml bottles every other month, almost always with new producers

Oh wow! TIL! The subscription service sounds awesome.

[Kris_Patten]

You can get some pretty geeky stuff with Maguey, they even have a Pechuga sampler that I keep wanting to grab.

[Tom_G_l_a_s_g_o_w]

I hope my subscription went through was 3 left when i ordered and now sold out right after ordering.

[JulianD]

@Kris_Patten

You can get some pretty geeky stuff with Maguey, they even have a Pechuga sampler that I keep wanting to grab.

Speaking of samplers, K&L has a 10x100ml sampler currently in stock.

[Evan_K]

For more “serious” agave spirits, what would you recommend drinking out of?

[ybarselah]

ahh. this is sick info - thank you.

[ybarselah]

@Mike_Cohen

FWIW, I don’t think that I have a particularly good palate,

i’ve known MC for 20+ years and consider him a great, great friend - but he’s being very humble here; his palate is utter shite.

[Mike_Cohen]

@ybarselah

@Mike_Cohen

FWIW, I don’t think that I have a particularly good palate,

i’ve known MC for 20+ years and consider him a great, great friend - but he’s being very humble here; his palate is utter shite.

I’m like the Thomas Hayden Church character in Sideways…“I don’t know…tastes good to me”