Reviews / Leyendas Espadin (Oaxaca)

Review · · by The Editors

Leyendas Espadin (Oaxaca)

The state series' weakest link

Score: 2.5/5 agaves

Leyendas Espadin (Oaxaca) bottle
  • Producer: Leyendas Mezcal
  • Maestro: Leonardo Hernandez, Saul Martinez
  • Region: San Baltazar Guélavila, San Juan del Rio, Oaxaca
  • Agave: Espadin
  • ABV: 42%
  • Price: $70 ($)

Verdict

The irony of Leyendas' state project is that the Oaxaca entry is the least interesting bottle in the line. The Guerrero and Tamaulipas bottlings feel like they were made to document a place; this one feels like it was made to fill a slot. At either ABV it's outclassed by Banhez's ensamble at half the shelf attention and two-thirds the price. Pass and buy up the ladder.

When the state series reaches Oaxaca, it stops trying

Tasting notes

Nose: Light smoke, cane syrup, a thin citrus note

Palate: Thin at 42%, flatter at 50% – the bottlings swing, and neither version does what a good Oaxaca espadín should. The liquid reads assembled rather than distilled

Finish: Sweet, forgettable – short

The bottom line

Skip – the rest of the state series does more

Where to buy online

We found this bottle at 2 US retailers. Prices and stock vary – click through to check.

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