La Venenosa Sierra Occidental - 42%
Mezcal Reviews: La Venenosa Raicilla Sierra Occidental de Jalisco is produced by Maestro Tabernero Don Ruben Peña in the mountains in the village of Mascota, Jalisco. At 1,500 metres above sea level, Don Ruben cultivates agave Maximiliana from seeds. The agave is roasted in a wood fired adobe oven and he uses wild yeasts to ferment the aguamiel, or must, in 200 litre vats. The distillation is performed in an arabic-philippino still and bottled after only one pass.
Notes: Brine. Vinegar. Chive. Candied lime. It's a bold nose. Flabby, lacking definition on the palate. Generic sweet fruits. Grilled onion. Generic acidity. Smoke creeps in with the short finish.
Pour This For: Honestly, not sure here. It's an odd flavor profile and the structure isn't well executed.
Score: 3 (Anything Else?) Aromatics are strong, but the structural issues and lack of clarity on the palate hurt the experience. Unique profile for sure.
Rating System
10 - Reevaluate The Budget
9 - Stash Two (If Able)
8 - Stash One (At The Right Price)
7 - Highly Recommend It To Strangers
6 - Solid - Above Average
5 - Acceptable For The Situation
4 - Not Vocally Complaining
3 - Anything Else To Drink?
2 - Nothing Nice To Say
1 - Drain Pour