Reviews / Maguey Melate Tepextate / Cuixe
Review · · by The Editors
Maguey Melate Tepextate / Cuixe
An ambitious Ocotlán ensamble that mutes both its agaves
Score: 3.0/5 agaves
- Producer: Maguey Melate
- Maestro: Flavio Cesar Rodriguez Rodriguez
- Region: Ocotlán, Oaxaca
- Agave: Cuishe, Tepextate
- ABV: 44%
- Price: $70 ($$)
Verdict
Tepextate and cuishe together is a conceptually exciting ensamble – two wild karwinskii-family cousins (nearly) with completely different mouthfeels. Flavio César's blend at 44% doesn't give either one enough room. Compare with Mal Bien's karwinskii ensembles, which commit to proof, and this bottle's problem becomes obvious. Pass and chase a higher-ABV release from the same maestro.
An ensamble where both agaves whisper when one should shout
Tasting notes
Nose: Faint floral, green melon, damp hay, soft smoke
Palate: At 44% neither the cuishe's karwinskii bite nor the tepextate's marmorata florals get to speak loudly – a pleasant mid-weight mezcal that is never especially one thing or the other
Finish: Short-to-medium, gently sweet, fades quick
The bottom line
A skip this one and hunt Flavio's other releases