Tim McKirdy

1 week ago | vinepair.com | Tim McKirdy

In many ways, moving from tequila into the expansive world of mezcal is like developing a taste for Scotch following a fascination with bourbon. Each duo shares the same parent category (agave spirits and whiskey, respectively), employs similar production techniques, and will often be found close to each other, if not side by side, in liquor stores. Of course, there are limits to this analogy, and the aim is not to frame mezcal or Scotch as superior to their siblings.

1 week ago | vinepair.com | Tim McKirdy

Rating 94 Style Mezcal Produced In Mexico ABV 52% Availability Year Round Price $118.00 Reviewed By Reviewed Gusto Histórico Madrecuixe Victor Ramos Review While it’s common (and for aficionados, preferred) to encounter mezcal bottled above the U.S. minimum of 80 proof, it’s much more rare to find bottles that creep past the 100-proof mark. But this tahona-crushed, copper-pot-distilled bottling arrives at 52 percent ABV, and we point that out because the alcohol is so seamlessly woven into...

1 week ago | vinepair.com | Tim McKirdy

Rating 93 Style Mezcal Produced In Mexico ABV 54.6% Availability Year Round Price $200.00 Reviewed By Reviewed Los Perdidos Tepeztate Aged 4 Months in Cognac Cask Review While aging in oak casks, especially those that formerly housed other spirits, isn’t traditional in mezcal production, it’s becoming increasingly common, particularly for export markets. When done with intentionality and a deft hand, some might argue that it increases the overall satisfaction from the drinking experience, and...

1 week ago | vinepair.com | Tim McKirdy

Rating 93 Style Mezcal Produced In Mexico ABV 48.3% Availability Year Round Price $60.00 Reviewed By Reviewed Creador de Calidad Lumbre-Espadín Ensamble Review Looking for niche and nerdy? This ensemble (blend) contains a mix of Espadín and Lumbre agave, the latter of which is native to the Zimatlán region of Oaxaca. The roasted magueys were hand-milled using mallets (mazos in the local parlance), and fermented and distilled in clay pots. The outcome is a spirit that opens with mineral,...

1 week ago | vinepair.com | Tim McKirdy

Rating 94 Style Mezcal Produced In Mexico ABV 48.9% Availability Year Round Price $104.00 Reviewed By Reviewed Palenqueros Madrecuishe Valente Garcia Review A hands-on, small-batch expression, the roasted Madrecuishe agave for this 933-bottle release was crushed by mallet before being double distilled in copper pots. Bottled at 48.9 percent ABV, it offers a bright, minerally wet rock nose, with hints of citrus and savory smoke. The palate that follows is layered with sweetness and roasted nut...