Reviews / 5 Sentidos Tobala-Sierra Negra-Jabali
Review · · by The Editors
5 Sentidos Tobala-Sierra Negra-Jabali
Three wild agaves in one bottle, from one of the category's more meticulous producers
Score: 4.5/5 agaves
- Producer: 5 Sentidos
- Maestro: Alberto Martinez
- Region: Santa Catarina Albarradas, Oaxaca
- Agave: Jabali, Sierra Negra, Tobala
- ABV: 49.2%
- Price: $149 ($$)
Verdict
Alberto Martínez's wild-agave ensamble for 5 Sentidos is the bottle that justifies the producer's cult reputation in serious mezcal circles. Three wild agaves in one bottle is a composition problem most producers don't solve; Martínez's solution is to let each agave retain its register while sharing a proof spine at 49.2%. Consensus 4.0 is conservative; we score half an agave higher. A reference three-agave ensamble.
Three wild agaves, one voice – this is ensamble at its most confident
Tasting notes
Nose: Wildflower, dark fruit, hot slate, a faint leather undertone
Palate: Exceptional layering, tobalá's florality, sierra negra's mineral density, jabalí's herbal edge, held in balance at 49.2%
Finish: Unending. Drying, herbal, warm
The bottom line
One of the strongest ensambles on the US market. Drink slowly