Reviews / El Rey Zapoteco Cuishe

Review · · by The Editors

El Rey Zapoteco Cuishe

El Rey Zapoteco cuishe at 48% – a workable mid-tier karwinskii at commercial specialty proof

Score: 3.5/5 agaves

El Rey Zapoteco Cuishe bottle
  • Producer: El Rey Zapoteco Mezcal
  • Maestro: Hernandez Escobar Family
  • Region: Santiago Matatlán, Oaxaca
  • Agave: Cuishe
  • ABV: 48%
  • Price: $49 ($$)

Verdict

Respectable commercial-specialty production, not elaborate, not sloppy, honest about what the bottle is: a distribution-scale wild-agave offering at appropriate proof. Buy it if you can't find Vago's cuishe or a Mezcalosfera at similar money; El Rey Zapoteco is the reliable mid-tier bottle when the boutique-import shelf is empty.

A solid mid-tier cuishe from a distribution-scale producer that respects the karwinskii family

Tasting notes

Nose: Green pepper with mineral damp

Palate: Lean at 48% – cuishe's vegetal spine is intact, and the proof does the structural work the agave wants

Finish: Cooling, drying, with a slow river rock fade. Long

The bottom line

Fine as a category introduction

Where to buy online

We found this bottle at 1 US retailer. Prices and stock vary – click through to check.

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