Reviews / Mal Bien Espadin - Morales
Review ·
Mal Bien Espadin - Morales
The Mal Bien entry point – still not for the faint of palate
Score: 3.5/5 agaves
- Producer: Mal Bien
- Maestro: Juan Hernández Méndez, Lucio Morales Lopez, Oscar Morales Garcia
- Region: San Dionisio Ocotepec, Santiago Matatlán, Oaxaca
- Agave: Espadin
- ABV: 45.6%
- Price: $40 ($$)
Verdict
This is not a crowd-pleaser. It's a legitimate mezcal that doesn't smooth its edges for an American palate. The 3.5 consensus seems fair – it's not the easiest bottle to love, but it's the most honest Mal Bien available.
Mal Bien's espadín is what happens when no marketing committee gets involved
Tasting notes
Nose: Campfire, green olive, cooked agave, faint bell pepper
Palate: Leaner than a typical espadín, with a bitter edge and a salinity most commercial espadíns have polished off. 45.6% is appropriate
Finish: Saline, peppery
The bottom line
A proper espadín. Not an easy one
Where to buy online
We found this bottle at 5 US retailers. Prices and stock vary – click through to check.
- Astor Wines – $40
- K&L Wines
- Wooden Cork – $72.99
- Mission Liquor – $40
- Total Wine
Price check: $40 (2026-07-29).
Compare: vs Machetazo Espadin