Fósforo Ensamble

Item: Fósforo Ensamble
Rating: 3.5
Author: The Editors

Puebla espadilla/tobalá ensamble at supermarket pricing

Score: 3.5/5 agaves

Producer: Fósforo Mezcal, Total Wine Spirits Direct
Maestro: Aarón Alva Sánchez
Region: San Nicolás Huajuapan, Puebla
Agave: Espadilla, Tobala
ABV: 43%
Price: $90–150 ($$$)

Verdict

Total Wine's Fósforo line is quietly one of the better mass-distributed Puebla mezcals. Sánchez's blend stays below Real Minero and NETA, and ahead of Banhez for about the same price. Buy if you live near a Total Wine and want Puebla on the shelf.

Total Wine's Fósforo line is quietly one of the better mass-distributed Puebla mezcals

Tasting notes

Nose: Cooked agave with a green pear, light floral, a wisp of char

Palate: The tobalá's floral lift peeks through the espadilla's cooked-sweet body. 43% is honest for the price; the Puebla register is drier than Oaxaca ensambles at the same bracket

Finish: Clean, faintly floral. Medium

The bottom line

Buy if you're at Total Wine already