Reviews / El Sarao Oaxaca Espadin & Tobala
Review · · by The Editors
El Sarao Oaxaca Espadin & Tobala
Espadín-tobalá ensamble at 45.7% – the commercial compromise that ensambles usually turn out to be
Score: 2.5/5 agaves
- Producer: El Sarao Oaxaca Mezcal, Total Wine Spirits Direct
- Region: San Dionisio Ocotepec, Oaxaca
- Agave: Espadin, Tobala
- ABV: 45.7%
- Price: $70 ($$)
Verdict
Two agaves without structural proof is a category-label exercise, not a composition. The ensamble framing gets stuck to the bottle while the actual drink sits underneath as commercial-tier espadín with a tobalá ghost. Skip; Banhez Ensamble at less money delivers on the label.
Store-brand ensambles rarely work, and this one doesn't
Tasting notes
Nose: Cooked agave with faint smoke, muted wildflower
Palate: Thin, at this proof the tobalá contribution barely registers on top of the espadín base, which itself plays as distribution-tier
Finish: Short, with a faint smoke fade
The bottom line
A skip. The cuishe in the same range is the store-brand pick
Where to buy online
We found this bottle at 1 US retailer. Prices and stock vary – click through to check.