NETA Mezcal
By James Colino, Founder of Mezcal Culture
Maestro mezcalero Ranulfo García Pacheco produced this bottle for Neta from maguey grown on his family-run farm. His palenque is surrounded by other crops such as limes, lemons, and passionfruit, which often end up as notes in his juice. This unique farm-to-bottle approach results in mezcals that I find myself buying again and again.
Brand: NETA
Category: Artisanal (Destilado de Agave)
Agave: Espadín & Madrecuixe
Mezcalero: Ranulfo García Pacheco
ABV: 47%
Region: Miahuatlán
Year: May 2019
Lot: ENSRAN1905
THE SNIFF:
- Sweet. Bubble gum. Tropical fruit with a touch of pine.
THE KISS:
- Bright citrus, more tropical fruit, and black pepper.
THE COAT:
- Buttery texture with notes of lime, pineapple, pine, and serrano pepper.
THE SWALLOW:
- Intensity: Warm
- Complexity: Complex
- Mouthfeel: Viscous
- Length: Long
- Smoke: Light
- Did I Like It? Yes
OVERALL REVIEW: I really enjoyed this bottle and wish I bought more but it was quite expensive. I prefer a slightly sweet and smooth mezcal so this Espadin/Madrecuixe combo hit all the right notes. The first sip is surprisingly sweet, followed by a bright burst of citrus before settling in with hints of pineapple and pine resin. It coats your tongue nicely and ends with a sharp whip of heat that lingers for a while. It’s not overly complex with layers and layers of different flavors but I love it for its drinkability. It’s one of those bottles you can sip all night without burning out your pallet. Highly recommend!
BEGINNER'S NOTE: This mezcal is an "ensamble," meaning the Espadín and Madrecuixe agaves were roasted, fermented, and distilled together in the same batch. This method allows the distinct sugars and flavors of both agave species to marry together from the very beginning of the production process to create a unique flavor that is often not able to be reproduced again.
DOWNLOAD THE TASTING GUIDE:
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.