Ilegal Joven vs Sombra Joven
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.
| Ilegal Joven | Sombra Joven | |
|---|---|---|
| Our score | 2.0/5 | 2.5/5 |
| The public | 2.6 | 2.9 |
| Price | $29 | $45 |
| ABV | 40% | 45% |
| Agave | Espadin | Espadin |
| Region | Tlacolula, Oaxaca | San Juan del Rio, San Luis del Rio, Oaxaca |
The call
Sombra Joven is the better bottle by 0.5; whether that is worth the extra $16 depends on how often you pour it. For sipping, spend up. For mixing, Ilegal Joven is the sane choice.
Ilegal Joven
You're buying the story. At $23 to $34, fine is a ceiling
Nose: Soft smoke, lemon peel, cooked agave, a faint commercial sweetness
Palate: Round, approachable, industrial in the way mid-proof commercial mezcal can't help being. Less rustic character than the price suggests
Finish: Clean, slightly sweet
Read the full Ilegal Joven review
Sombra Joven
Story first. Climb to the Sombra Ensamble instead
Nose: Light smoke, then cooked agave, green apple, vanilla
Palate: 45% is honest but the profile isn't – sweet, smooth, engineered to the price point, with Isaias Martinez Juan's work filed down by the brand's commercial goals
Finish: Clean, faintly sweet. Stays short
Read the full Sombra Joven review
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