Reviews / Del Maguey San Luis Del Rio

Review · · by The Editors

Del Maguey San Luis Del Rio

The village at the top of the Del Maguey ladder's entry rung

Score: 3.5/5 agaves

Del Maguey San Luis Del Rio bottle
  • Producer: Del Maguey Mezcal
  • Maestro: Marcos Cruz Mendez, Paciano Cruz Nolasco
  • Region: San Luis del Rio, Oaxaca
  • Agave: Espadin
  • ABV: 46%
  • Price: $70 ($)

Verdict

San Luis del Rio is the bottle the Del Maguey line pivots on. Below it, everything drinks like a bar spirit; above it, everything drinks like a producer spirit. Consensus undersells this one – 3.2 is harsh for what's in the bottle.

The upgrade from Vida to SLDR is the first honest step up the Del Maguey ladder

Tasting notes

Nose: Citrus peel – then wet earth, green smoke, soft fruit

Palate: Cleaner and brighter than Vida (same village, different production discipline) – the extra proof (46% vs 42%) opens the nose wider

Finish: Peppery, clean

The bottom line

The first Del Maguey bottle that feels like a mezcal, not a Del Maguey

Where to buy online

We found this bottle at 3 US retailers. Prices and stock vary – click through to check.

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