Reviews / Mal Bien Espadin - Morales

Review · · by The Editors

Mal Bien Espadin - Morales

The Mal Bien entry point – still not for the faint of palate

Score: 3.5/5 agaves

Mal Bien Espadin - Morales bottle
  • 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: $50 ($)

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.

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