Last Updated on: 23rd January 2024, 01:18 pm
J Highland
J Highland is a certified sommelier with 30 years in the liquor industry, owning a pub, a liquor store, and moonlighting as an agave spirits distiller.
Mezcal: Avoiding the Missteps
While many Mezcal brands capture the agave spirit’s essence, some fall short.
In this guide, assisted by agave spirits Neil Coleman and customer feedback, we’ll spotlight Mezcals that don’t meet the mark.
Let’s uncover the brands to bypass, so you don’t end up with a Mezcal that’s more like “Meh-zcal”!
Written by: J Highland
Quick Look at the Worst Mezcals
These are the bottles I recommend never touching, not even when looking for something to disinfect wounds:
Monte Alban Mezcal
Monte Alban is often regarded as one of the poorest quality Mezcals available, primarily due to the inclusion of a worm inside the bottle and its unpleasant taste.
This infused reposado Mezcal is widely available in liquor stores across the United States at an affordable price.
However, the taste of Monte Alban is highly disappointing, resembling a subpar Jamaican Rum with peculiar prominent cinnamon roll notes and a noticeable presence of acetone and nail polish.
It lacks a body, appearing watery and thin on the palate.
Unfortunately, this Mezcal does a disservice to the reputation of the entire category by offering a subpar experience that fails to showcase the true essence and quality of this agave spirit.
Zignum
Zignum Silver does not have the traditional taste of Mezcal, resembling more of a cross between Tequila and Vodka.
It lacks the “Mezcal Artesanal” label, indicating that it may not adhere to traditional Mezcal production methods, which explains its deviation in flavor.
My recommendation would be to avoid purchasing Zignum Silver.
However, if you use it in mixed drinks, adding ample lime and sugar may help make it more palatable.
Aleron
Aleron, the second best-selling Mezcal in Mexico, following 400 Conejos, gained popularity through the support of four renowned Mexican YouTubers.
However, this Mezcal falls short as it is watered to a mere 35% alcohol (70 proof).
It presents a delicate, almost negligible salty taste with subtle hints of fruitiness.
Unfortunately, Aleron fails to impress discerning drinkers, lacking the complexity and depth expected from a quality Mezcal.
Nonetheless, it can still be utilized in cocktail recipes.
Ojo de Tigre
Ojo de Tigre, another popular mezcal in Mexico, gained attention by associating with a well-known soap opera actor.
Unfortunately, this Mezcal falls into the category of watered-down offerings, lacking distinctive flavor notes.
Despite its affordable price, it is considered one of the lowest-quality mezcal brands.
When tasted neat, Ojo de Tigre is exceptionally light, with subtle hints of saltiness and a slight bitterness.
Los Amantes
Los Amantes is another Mezcal that falls short, lacking depth and character.
Despite its appealing presentation with a nice bottle and cork stopper, the Mezcal fails to deliver.
Los Amantes Joven is a triple-distilled Mezcal crafted from agave Espadin.
However, the additional distillation process renders it overly smooth at the cost of losing any real flavor.
The lack of complexity in this Mezcal may be attributed to the triple distillation.
It may find better use as a mixer rather than a standalone spirit.
An unusual chemical taste lingers in the aftertaste, further detracting from its appeal.
Creyente
Creyente is another brand that prioritized its bottle’s design over the product’s quality.
Created by Jose Cuervo, known for producing some of the least impressive Tequilas, Creyente Joven is a blend of two distinct mezcals made from agave Espadin.
The two Mezcals are produced separately and then blended after distillation.
While the bottle is visually appealing, the juice inside is highly disappointing.
It lacks depth, character, and vitality, coming across as flat and watery.
At this price point, it falls short of expectations and may find better use in cocktails rather than being enjoyed alone.
Gusano Rojo
Gusano Rojo, known for being one of the early Mezcals exported from Mexico, continues to be widely distributed worldwide.
This Mezcal undergoes a double distillation process and is aged for two months in oak and white oak casks before bottling.
Gusano Rojo takes pride in being the first Mezcal to include the worm in its bottle, a concept supposedly conceived by an employee at the bottling plant in the 1940s.
“Red Worm” refers to the worm that grows inside the agave plant, sometimes considered a delicacy with supposed aphrodisiac properties.
However, the unfortunate reality is that Gusano Rojo falls short in flavor.
It consistently exhibits a dominant nail polish taste from the beginning to the end, making it a disappointing choice for Mezcal enthusiasts.
What makes a bad Mezcal?
“The sad reality is that a significant portion, around 80%, of the Mezcal commonly found in stores falls short in quality. This is not an exaggeration but a result of the commercial pressures to meet the growing demand for Mezcal.”, states Mezcal expert Neil Coleman.
Two fundamental factors contribute to the production of bad Mezcal:
- Using unripe agave: Just like eating a green banana, using agaves that are not fully mature leads to an unsatisfying flavor profile in Mezcal.
- Poor distillation process: When the master distiller fails to properly cut into the upper and lower portions of the distilled agave, the resulting Mezcal often ends up tasting like nail polish.
These factors compromise Mezcal’s overall quality and taste, highlighting the importance of sourcing ripe agave and employing skillful distillation techniques to ensure a superior product.