Mal Bien Jabali / Bicuixe / Arroqueno

Item: Mal Bien Jabali / Bicuixe / Arroqueno
Rating: 4.5
Author: The Editors

Ageo Cortés's three-agave ensamble – the conversation piece

Score: 4.5/5 agaves

Producer: Mal Bien
Maestro: Ageo Cortés
Region: Miahuatlán, Oaxaca
Agave: Arroqueño, Bicuishe, Jabali
ABV: 51.5%
Price: $70 ($$)

Verdict

Most three-agave ensambles are about marketing; this one is about complementarity. Ageo Cortés built a blend where jabalí's funk sits in arroqueño's density and bicuishe's clarity keeps the whole thing lifted. At 51.5% there is proof enough for the jabalí to show up honestly and spine enough for arroqueño to drive. This is the Mal Bien bottle we'd put on a blind table against anything from Lalocura.

Three agaves that actually need each other

Tasting notes

Nose: Dark chocolate, then green pepper, wild herb, crushed mineral, tropical funk

Palate: 51.5% with arroqueño depth, bicuishe lift, and jabalí wildness braided without one shouting over the others – the refrescador keeps every voice legible

Finish: Dry, layered

The bottom line

Commit. This is what ensamble is for