Aprendiz Espadin-Tepextate Ensamble

Item: Aprendiz Espadin-Tepextate Ensamble
Rating: 3.5
Author: The Editors

A San Juan del Rio ensamble at 45%, clean if underpowered

Score: 3.5/5 agaves

Producer: Aprendiz Mezcal
Maestro: Isaias Martinez Juan
Region: San Juan del Rio, Oaxaca
Agave: Espadin, Tepextate
ABV: 45%
Price: $60 ($$)

Verdict

A legitimate ensamble. Aprendiz is a younger producer in the Oaxacan mid-tier whose San Juan del Rio work is worth watching, the espadín-tepextate ensamble at 45% delivers the tepextate lift cleanly, and the producer's commercial-specialty position suggests the catalog will evolve with more distribution. At this price the bottle clears the mid-tier bar without reaching above it. Community average matches. A respectable Aprendiz release.

Aprendiz is a younger producer worth watching

Tasting notes

Nose: Wildflower with warm stone

Palate: Medium-bodied at 45% – the tepextate lift reads clearly

Finish: Drying, cooling, long

The bottom line

A respectable Aprendiz release