Reviews / Mala Idea Ensamble
Review · · by The Editors
Mala Idea Ensamble
Sernas three-agave – espadín, jabalí, tobalá at a friendly proof
Score: 3.5/5 agaves
- Producer: Mala Idea Mezcal
- Maestro: Celestino Sernas
- Region: Santiago Matatlán, Oaxaca
- Agave: Espadin, Jabali, Tobala
- ABV: 45%
- Price: $70 ($$)
Verdict
Celestino Sernas built a gentle ensamble that uses jabalí as seasoning rather than centerpiece. At 45% there isn't enough spine to fully support the jabalí if it were solo, which is probably why it isn't. A useful on-ramp bottle to a wild agave most drinkers haven't met. Compare with Mal Bien Chucho-Poncho Sanchez's espadín-jabalí for a sharper version of the same idea.
Jabalí in the training pool
Tasting notes
Nose: Cooked agave up front. Wild herb, tropical fruit, faint mineral underneath
Palate: 45% of a blend where the jabalí's wildness peeks through espadín's structure and the tobalá adds lift, an approachable ensamble that gets jabalí into a drinker's glass without punishing them
Finish: Dry, layered – long
The bottom line
A friendly introduction to jabalí