Macurichos Mezcal
By James Colino, Founder of Mezcal Culture
I poured this mezcal at a tasting event for some top architects in New York City. Out of the three really good bottles, this was the overwhelming favorite.
The most notable feature was the soft minerality that comes from its clay pot distillation. You can smell it and you can taste it.
This process softens the typical floral and vegetal edges of a tobalá. In this case, it also gives it earthy vibes without muting the signature sweetness that can result from old world production.
Overall, it’s pretty balanced from front to back. It wasn’t overly sweet, spicy, earthy or smoky. It wasn’t “flat” either. If you spend time with it, you’ll notice each of the notes rolling across your tongue in distinct waves.
This bottle is probably out of print by now but if you can find an ancestral bottle from this brand, get one. It’s worth every penny.
I liked it so much, I made a candle out of it :)
Brand: Macurichos
Bottle/Expression: Mezcal Ancestral Tobalá
Category: Ancestral
Agave Varietal: Tobalá (Agave potatorum), wild
Region: Santiago Matatlán, Oaxaca
Maestro Mezcalero: Gonzalo Martínez Sernas
ABV: 47.8%
Lot: TB-009/95 Liters
Date: Feb 2023
Price Range: ($125-$150)
THE SNIFF:
- Wet stones. Vanilla.
THE KISS:
- Fruity and sweet. Fresh vanilla.
THE COAT:
- Minerals, roasted peaches, vanilla beans, & roasted poblanos.
THE SWALLOW:
- Minerals, peaches, honeydew melon, vanilla finish.
BARTENDER'S NOTE: “Ancestral" means this mezcal was produced the “old way”. Earthen oven, hand-crushed agave, clay pot distillation, etc.
NEED HELP DESCRIBING WHAT YOU TASTE?
Below is the tasting guide I use to capture my notes. I designed it to follow the way you "should" drink mezcal -- Sniff, Kiss, Coat, Swallow. You can download it here: Mezcal Tasting Guide | MezcalCulture.Com - 2026.pdf
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James Colino is the founder, chief editor and Chief Mezcal Officer of Mezcal Culture. He holds a Level 1 Mezcal Certification from the Agave Spirits Institute and can be found visiting mezcalerias across the world, host tastings at home for friends, or and working with bars on their agave programs.