Reviews / Erstwhile Cuishe
Review · · by The Editors
Erstwhile Cuishe
Erstwhile cuishe at 45%. A reliable mid-tier karwinskii at proof the agave actually uses
Score: 3.5/5 agaves
- Producer: Erstwhile Mezcal
- Maestro: Juan Hernández Méndez
- Region: Santiago Matatlán, Oaxaca
- Agave: Cuishe
- ABV: 45%
- Price: $70 ($$)
Verdict
Pour this next to a Real Minero cuishe to see where the mid-tier stops and the top of the category begins – Erstwhile's version is clean, karwinskii-characteristic, and honestly priced, but the mineral density a Lalocura or Real Minero cuishe reaches is out of range at 44%. No consensus on file; our 3.5 reflects a legitimate cuishe that knows its lane.
A respectable mid-tier cuishe from a producer whose hand shows consistently
Tasting notes
Nose: Green pepper, wet stone, mineral damp, dry hay, a faint floral high note
Palate: The cuishe signature holds and the proof lands for the agave's lighter register; lean at 45%
Finish: Cooling, drying, with a slow green-herb fade, long
The bottom line
Fine as a karwinskii-family introduction
Where to buy online
We found this bottle at 5 US retailers. Prices and stock vary – click through to check.