I’ve had some of the brads you’ve mentioned and will keep an eye out for the others. I like the real Minero, 5 Centidos, and Neta. Also enjoy the El Jolgario (sp?), Mal Bien, and La Laquora (sp?)
@@ZackKlamn I think I hit a plateau with ~$50 Espadin bottles, Jarquin Madrecuish spoiled me. Taking a break before I make that jump to the next level, lots to consider... I can order a Tio Rey ensemble but they seem to be hit or miss. I'm thinking of maybe something like Lagrimas de Dolores Masparilla, or the Madrecuish from Cuish Mezcales
@@psilo110 that Lagrimas Masparillo is pretty bomb! As is the Cuish Madrecuishe. I'd go with the Masparillo if you haven't tried too many Durnago mezcales yet.
Can't argue about the quality of those five, but I agree that a top ten list here is in order (full Letterman treatment). Other commenters pointed out the Mal Bien, Lalocura, Jolgorio, but Rezpiral, Aguerrido (my current fav), Mezonte, and Cuish (the brand) all deserve consideration. And if you get a chance to do a tasting with Erick Rodriguez of Pal'Alma, do it! Keep the content coming!
Very true, a Letterman style top 10 would be pretty fun. I'll have to update this in the future and expand on it. All those brands you mentioned are simply incredible. Thanks for checking out the video and I really appreciate your input. It helps to know what other mezcales people love and enjoy. 😎
I have a bottle of the Cinco Sentidos Sierra Negra on the way that I’m get into. Have you tried that particular one before? Let me know! Their restaurant Destilado in Oaxaca is also worth mentioning, one of my favorite meals in Mexico!
I had the Sierra Negra a couple years ago and remember it well, it was fantastic. I hope this recent batch you have is just as good. Destilado is frickin awesome! Great food and I love sitting at the bar upstairs, you meet some great people sitting around there and sipping the good stuff. Thanks for watching, Ben. Talk to you soon!
Just returned from Oaxaca and visited 3 Palenques with the guide Tomás Ramirez, / We tasted at La Desendencia, (Felix) Palenque el Conejo (Antonio) y Palenque Dada Roo (Juan sr. de las canas). Also went to Distilado in Oaxaca City where I tasted 4-5 mezcals from 5 Sentidos, I especially enjoyed tasting a bottle that contained:Cumarron, Cucharillo y Papalome.
If there was a top 10, they all 3 you mentioned would have been in there (and well deserved). All 3 were close but a vote or two short out of the sample size of 100 people. FYI, my top 3 are Neta, Mal Bien and Maguey Melate and only one of my favs made it in the top 5. Thanks for watching though, have a great rest of your Saturday!
Hey! There are quite a few brands that could easily be subbed in and out in terms of quality / accessibiliy. Lalocura and La Luna included! But I was just going by the numbers, hahaha. Thanks for checking it out though, enjoy your weekend!
Hey Zack, just wanted to say I started getting more into Mezcal the past few months and your channel has been an invaluable resource for me. I think it would be interesting for you to compare different agave varietals and/or producing regions in broad terms. I.E. mezcals of X tend to be more floral vs mezcals of Y more vegetal etc. I realize that there's a ton of variables to take into account, but as someone new I have a hard time deciding what to try cause I just have no idea what to expect from say a Tobala vs a Jabali, or even if there IS much of a difference. So having a broad overview of the more popular varieties could be a helpful guide I think. Keep up the good work!
@@barboshaa Yeah, buddy! FAA is a master. I have a some of his tepeztate left from when I visited his palenque last. Amazing stuff! Have a great day! 😎
Nice content...just getting into tequila and mexcal...less than a month in...picked up my first mezcal (mal bien) and was pleasantly surprised at what I was tasting. So different than what I imagined. I'll be on the lookout for some of the brands you just mentioned.
I guess its a category called curators as the brand itself doesnt actually produce mezcal. I would throw Derrumbes in there as well, their Guerrero, Durango and SLP expressions are world class imho.
Great point! Although Real Minero would be the only brand of the five who produce and sell wholly from within (i.e., not a curator). That Derrumbes Durango is the best in their line IMO. So good. One thing Derrumbes have done well here in the USA is with the 200 mL options. I seem to always be going on about that but it's such a great way to dip your toe into an agave/region/brand/etc. and see if it's for you without splurging for a whole bottle.
I thought us poor Mezcal liking Canadians up here in the great white north would be left out with none of the favs available up here, but I can get Cinco Sentidos. I have liked all the bottles I have tried.
I love vago’s elote by Hijos, definitely a excellent mezcal especially for the price point. I recently got Tio Rey’s pechuga and can’t wait to try that one out. Cinco sientidos is one of my favorite brands as well.
Great channel, Zack. I can't find a lot of these expressions in Las Vegas. But I'm in socal regularly. Can you recommend a store in socal where I can find some of the good stuff? Thanks.
That’s debatable, it’s important to be certified by comercam or other institution; it’s the only way to have a third party inspecting every batch making sure you don’t add “weird stuff” to the juice
Tequila/mezcal popularity jumped up so fast and continues too , that I say by next year the prices are gonna soar , great video and knowledgeable thanks
