Madre Mezcal
By James Colino, Founder of Mezcal Culture
My first taste of ancestral mezcal started me on my journey of agave-based journalism nearly a decade ago. So, whenever I can, I pick up a bottle. This week, I'm reviewing a solid Ensamble from Madre Mezcal that combines Espadin and Tobasiche.
To simplify my own tasting process (and teach others), I developed a "tasting guide". You can download it here: Mezcal Tasting Guide | MezcalCulture.Com - 2026.pdf
The tasting guide follows both the process of how to taste mezcal AND some simple ways to identify what you're tasting.
Using the guide, here's how I mapped this tasting...
Brand: Madre Mezcal
Category: Ancestral
Agave: Ensamble - Espadin & Tobasiche
ABV: 47%
Region: Oaxaca
Lot: ANC-02
SNIFF:
- Fruity and a little Woody
KISS:
- Sweet
COAT:
- Melon, Cedar, Wet Stones
SWALLOW:
- Intensity: Hot
- Complexity: Complex
- Mouthfeel: Smooth
- Length: Medium
- Smoke: Light
- Did I Like It? YES!
OVERALL REVIEW: This is the kind of mezcal I like. Sweet-smelling with some notes of cedar. The kiss (first sip) is also sweet. When I coat my tongue a few times, it's quite complexity -- it evolves with each sip. I taste minerals from the ancestral production process, roasted melon, wood, caramel, and a light smoke at the end. It's a "hot" mezcal, meaning it burns a little bit but it doesn't have a strong alcohol smell. I would drink this again.
Keep going
Mezcal has more to learn than any spirit I know, and I love that. If you want a head start:
Decode every term on a mezcal menu in the Mezcal Culture glossary.
Find the bars that do it right on our list of the best mezcal bars.
Taste both side by side at a mezcal or tequila event near you.
Wondering what goes into the bottle? Read What Is Mezcal Made Of?
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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.