Reviews / 5 Sentidos Arroqueño y Espadin de Cuero

Review · · by The Editors

5 Sentidos Arroqueño y Espadin de Cuero

Alberto Martinez puts arroqueño and espadín in a clay pot and lets the rocks sing

Score: 4.0/5 agaves

5 Sentidos Arroqueño y Espadin de Cuero bottle
  • Producer: 5 Sentidos
  • Maestro: Alberto Martinez
  • Region: Santa Catarina Albarradas, Oaxaca
  • Agave: Arroqueño, Espadin
  • ABV: 50.7%
  • Price: $175 ($$)

Verdict

Santa Catarina Albarradas ensambles tend to split between the polished and the rustic – this one lands squarely on the rustic side, which is where we want it. Martinez has the patience most producers budget away, and you can taste it in the mid-palate. If Real Minero's ensambles feel engineered, this feels poured. Track the Cinco Sentidos releases from Albarradas as a rule.

Clay pot is a tax on the distiller. Martinez pays it and keeps paying it

Tasting notes

Nose: Wet river stone. Then cooked agave syrup, green pepper

Palate: Arroqueño's savory weight anchors what would otherwise be a sweet espadín; at 50.7% and out of Martinez's ollas, the texture reads mineral and unhurried

Finish: Dry, faintly iron

The bottom line

Buy it when you see it; Martinez's clay-pot work rarely hits shelves twice

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