Reviews / Alipus San Juan XX Aniversario Tepeztate, Tobala, Sierra Negra
Review ·
Alipus San Juan XX Aniversario Tepeztate, Tobala, Sierra Negra
Three-agave San Juan del Rio ensamble – less common than San Luis or San Baltazar
Score: 4.0/5 agaves
- Producer: Alipus Mezcal
- Maestro: Joel Antonio Cruz
- Region: San Juan del Rio, Oaxaca
- Agave: Sierra Negra, Tepextate, Tobala
- ABV: 48%
- Price: $150+ ($$$$)
Verdict
A worthwhile anniversary Alipus. San Juan del Rio gets less attention than Alipus's flagship villages (San Baltazar, SLDR, San Luis) – the anniversary three-agave ensamble at 48% is the bottle that argues San Juan del Rio deserves more of the marketing spend. Sierra negra, tepextate, and tobalá in one bottle is a composition where each agave finds a distinct register. The village earns its place in the anniversary series.
San Juan del Rio gets less attention than it deserves
Tasting notes
Nose: Wildflower, warm stone, cooked agave, floral edge
Palate: Aromatic at 48% – sierra negra's density, tepextate's herbal lift, tobalá's floral notes
Finish: Drying, cooling – very long
The bottom line
Anniversary San Juan del Rio, done right