Quiereme Mucho Mezcal
By James Colino, Founder of Mezcal Culture
The price of a 25 year old Macallan Scotch will run you about $2,300.
The main ingredient (barley grains) takes about 3 months to grow and you can do it just about anywhere.
So when people I know balk at the chance to pick up a bottle of a Tepextate mezcal at $125 because it's "too expensive", I just want to smack them. You see...a Tepextate mezcal can also take up to 25 years to make, it tastes just as good, and it's arguably harder to make.
I don't want to pay $2,300 for a bottle but, seriously people, what's the reason for disparity?
Brand: Quiereme Mucho Mezcal
Category: Artesanal
Agave: Tepextate (Agave marmorata)
ABV: 45%
Region: San Pedro Taviche, Oaxaca
Lot: AA-61
THE SNIFF:
- Fresh-cut grass, green bell pepper, and a hint of wet stones.
THE KISS:
- Bright green herbs with a little sweetness.
THE COAT:
- Earthy and floral. Roasted jalapeño, herbs, flowers, and minerals.
THE SWALLOW:
- Intensity: Medium
- Complexity: Balanced
- Body: Medium
- Length: Long
- Smoke: Light
Did I Like It? Yes
OVERALL REVIEW: Quiereme Mucho’s Tepextate, crafted by Maestra Mezcalera Violeta Arenas Mesora, is a good example what a tepextate should be.
On the nose, it immediately hits you with classic green bell pepper and fresh-cut grass, giving way to a bright, herbaceous first sip.
As it coats your tongue, the flavors deepen into spicy roasted peppers and a grounding earthy wet stone flavor.
The finish is long and smooth -- not too smokey.
I found this bottle to be a nice balanced pour. I would drink it again. I also love keeping the hand-painted, hand-written bottle on my home bar as a nice conversation starter.
BARTENDER’S NOTE: Tepextate is typically a wild agave that can take up to 25 years to reach maturity. It grows on rocky cliffs, which contributes to its signature intense green and mineral-driven flavor.
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
Keep going
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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.