Reviews / Cuish Espadín Capón 2004

Review · · by The Editors

Cuish Espadín Capón 2004

A capón espadín at 45%. Age and extraction don't rescue proof

Score: 3.0/5 agaves

Cuish Espadín Capón 2004 bottle
  • Producer: Cuish Mezcales
  • Maestro: José Santiago Lopez
  • Region: Santiago Matatlán, Oaxaca
  • Agave: Espadin
  • ABV: 45%
  • Price: $150 ($$)

Verdict

Capón is the agave equivalent of force-feeding, sugars concentrate when the flower stalk is cut, and the liquid should respond in kind. At 45% this José Santiago bottle goes soft where it could have been structural. Pass; the 2004 vintage reads more like curio than climb. Cuish does better work at higher proof elsewhere in this catalog.

Capón wants proof to match its sugar – this one didn't get it

Tasting notes

Nose: Dried fruit, then light oak, cooked agave, a thin spice

Palate: Capón (castrated agave) concentrates sugar; 45% still can't carry it, the 2004 bottling reads sweet where it should read concentrated

Finish: Sweet, faintly woody. Medium

The bottom line

A curious vintage; not the bottle to spend on

Where to buy online

We found this bottle at 2 US retailers. Prices and stock vary – click through to check.

More from Cuish Mezcales