Banhez Espadin & Barril vs El Silencio Espadin

Two bottles that end up on the same shelf, tasted the same way on the same rubric. Scores, current average US prices, and the call.

	Banhez Espadin & Barril	El Silencio Espadin
Our score	3.5/5	2.0/5
The public	3.4	2.4
Price	$33	$37
ABV	42%	43%
Agave	Barril, Espadin	Espadin
Region	Ejutla, Oaxaca	San Baltazar Guélavila, Oaxaca

The call

Banhez Espadin & Barril wins by 1.5 full points; El Silencio Espadin is not in the same conversation, and it cannot even claim the price advantage.

Banhez Espadin & Barril

The default first bottle, with Mestiza Negra ($20 at Trader Joe's) as its rival

Nose: Green herbs with melon rind, cooked agave

Palate: Brighter and more aromatic than its price tier suggests, the barril adds a savory undertow under the espadín's sweetness

Finish: Clean, faintly bitter – medium

Read the full Banhez Espadin & Barril review

El Silencio Espadin

Underpowered espadín, weak even for the $ tier

Nose: A faint smoke, then acetone, a chemical sweetness underneath

Palate: Thin at 43%. The distillation cuts are suspect – acetone on the nose doesn't belong in clean espadín at any proof, and the production doesn't do the agave any favors

Finish: Bitter, with a chemical fade. Stays short

Read the full El Silencio Espadin review

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