Maguey Melate Arroqueno - Rosario Ángeles Vasquéz

Verdict

Honor Rosario Ángeles Vasquéz by name: Santa Catarina Minas has a dozen arroqueño producers and she's one of the ones worth tracking. Reach for this over generic Minas bottlings – the clay signature is there, the fruit stays lifted, and the proof gives the agave somewhere to go. Mezcalosfera drinkers will recognize the caliber.

Tasting notes

Nose: Cooked agave, fig, wet clay, warm stone

Palate: At 49.8% the arroqueño carries every ounce of its weight. Santa Catarina Minas clay-pot distillation adds the characteristic wet-earth line under the fruit – Rosario keeps the density from tipping into heaviness

Finish: Warming, faintly tannic

The bottom line

Minas clay-pot done right. Hunt when available