Reviews / Mezcalero No. 14

Review · · by The Editors

Mezcalero No. 14

Arroqueño that doesn't quite land

Score: 3.0/5 agaves

Mezcalero No. 14 bottle
  • Producer: Mezcalero Mezcal
  • Maestro: Jesus Rios
  • Region: Potrero, Oaxaca
  • Agave: Arroqueño
  • ABV: 47.7%
  • Price: $70 ($$)

Verdict

No. 14 is the weakest Mezcalero we've tasted. The arroqueño doesn't present with the weight the agave is known for, which suggests either a difficult harvest or a compromised production batch – Craft Distillers doesn't release batch-specific details, so we can only evaluate the glass. Numbered series reward drinking across the range; No. 14 is the entry that demonstrates why. Community consensus aligns. Mezcalero's No. 5, 7, 15, 16, and 20 all outperform meaningfully.

Arroqueño without arroqueño's weight

Tasting notes

Nose: Muted dark fruit – then faint smoke, dry earth

Palate: Thinner than arroqueño should be at 47.7% – the agave's density isn't fully expressed

Finish: Medium, drying, warm

The bottom line

A skip. Real Minero Arroqueño is the correct spend at similar money

Where to buy online

We found this bottle at 1 US retailer. Prices and stock vary – click through to check.

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