Gusano Rojo Mezcal vs Monte Alban Mezcal Con Gusano
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.
| Gusano Rojo Mezcal | Monte Alban Mezcal Con Gusano | |
|---|---|---|
| Our score | 1.5/5 | 1.5/5 |
| The public | 1.9 | 1.2 |
| Price | $35 | $31 |
| ABV | 38% | 40% |
| Agave | Espadin | Espadin |
| Region | Santiago Matatlán, Oaxaca | Oaxaca |
The call
The scores tie at 1.5, so price decides it: Monte Alban Mezcal Con Gusano costs less and gets the nod.
Gusano Rojo Mezcal
A worm and 38%, nothing else
Nose: Industrial smoke with sugar, a trace of something vegetal
Palate: 38-40% abocado with a worm – the category at its most cynical. The liquid tastes like a liquor-store-and-weed-shop bottle, because that's what it is
Finish: Sweet, clean-ish – short
Read the full Gusano Rojo Mezcal review
Monte Alban Mezcal Con Gusano
Avoid. The worm is the entire proposition; Mestiza Negra costs ten dollars less and is mezcal
Nose: Paint thinner, corn syrup, faint smoke, a musty accent from the worm
Palate: 40% industrial espadín with a gusano in the bottom, thin, chemically sweet, the kind of mezcal that created mezcal's bad reputation
Finish: Metallic, regrettable – short
Read the full Monte Alban Mezcal Con Gusano review