Del Maguey Special Edition Mezcal: It's Like A Smoked, Meat-Wrapped Baseball Bat To The Face!
- Aug 23, 2015
- 3 min read
This week our taste buds have headed down to Mexico to try out our first Mezcal that packs more of a meaty punch than the entire contents of your local butchers! And, damn, is this one good! So, say a big ‘hola’ to Del Maguey San Luis Del Rio Special Stitzel Weller Cask Finish. And if you’re also new to Mezcal, then this is your perfect starting point!
If you’ve not had Mezcal before, you’re probably wondering what the hell it is. Well never fear as our main man, David Coveney from The Spirit Cellar, has only gone a written us one damn informative post all about it, which you can read here. But in short, Mezcal is actually Tequila’s cooler older brother! This one in particular, is a special edition Del Maguey single village Mezcal that has been distilled in San Luis Del Rio, in Oaxaca. But what makes this so special is that it has been aged for 124 days in American oak barrels (quite rare for a Mezcal), which for 20 years previously held Stitzel Weller Wheated Bourbon. There were only 1530 produced so this particular Mezcal is pretty damn rare, but definitely worth a try! And talking about trying, let’s get to it.
And once you get that nose of yours stuck in you’ll find spicy pepper is one standout, distinctive aroma in this Mexican flavour feast, filling your senses with sheer savoury delight. Intermingling with this blowout bouquet is smoky, meaty tones that just simply make you want to go cook yourself up a peppered steak or craft yourselves one magnificent bacon sandwich! It really is heavenly pungent. But this Mezcals aroma is really full on and extremely elaborate! You’ll also find hints of citrus winding it’s way out of your glass and there’s an underlying sweetness that gloriously binds everything together.
But to really get the full frontal from this Mexican you need to get sipping! And once you do your mouth purely erupts with those prickly, pepper pummels that excited that nose of yours no end! And bursting out of this taste volcano and holding hands with that pepper, are those delectable smoked, meaty tones that intertwine so well with that pepper and prominently prove that they still are the boisterous kings of this flavour castle. It’s pretty damn insane to be honest, and we can’t quite get enough of it! It’s that hit of pepper that gives those brawny tones that succulent edge and draws us back in for more! Mezcal, where have you freaking been all our lives?
But there’s also a wonderful sweetness in this Mezcal that lies on your tongue like a bloody Persian rug! It’s incredibly soft and almost calms down that spice which the pepper gives off. There are citrus notes in there too and maybe a hint of the floral if you push your taste buds, but these play second fiddle to that riotous smoked meat overlord. It’s also quite salty too and you there are a few whispers of oak in there for good measure. The finish is smooth, warming and a tad like a pack of Frazzles; smoked bacon! Oh my God it is heaven! The only burn you get is, once again, from the pepper, which has now littered your entire mouth.
But what gets us all riled up about this Mezcal is simply that utter burst of peppered, smoky meat that hits you square in the face like a meat-wrapped baseball bat. It’s so sumptuous, so savoury and just down right tasty! And who doesn’t like to drink a glassful of liquefied meat? Well, unless you’re a veggie! So if you’re a newbie to this Mezcal sensation, then this particular dram is an exceptional one to start with. Yes, it may be a little pricey but it is a special cask edition after all and once you taste it, you won’t care how much it is! So welcome Mezcal into your lives with your open, boozy arms and bask in its sheer Mexican glory! It’s so bloody tip top!
You can pick up a bottle here.
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