Reviews / Pal'alma Nuevo León
Review · · by The Editors
Pal'alma Nuevo León
Castilla from Nuevo León – northern mezcal that earns its place
Score: 3.5/5 agaves
- Producer: Pal'alma
- Maestro: Jorge Torres
- Region: Santiago, Nuevo León
- Agave: Castilla
- ABV: 50%
- Price: $70 ($)
Verdict
Nuevo León has been quietly producing mezcal for as long as Oaxaca and Palalma is one of the few brands shipping it past state lines. This bottle reads less immediately pretty than an Oaxaca equivalent; it reads more like a place that doesn't try to flatter you. Reach for it when you want to understand what mezcal looks like outside the Oaxaca conversation.
Northern mezcal drinks like it grew up in a different century
Tasting notes
Nose: Desert herbs, then dry grass, a mineral top, wildflower honey
Palate: 50% of castilla agave from Nuevo León, carrying the state's arid-climate austerity, less fruit, more herb, more slate-tinged. Different country from Oaxaca, different set of notes
Finish: Dry, herbaceous. Stays long
The bottom line
Reach for it. Essential for anyone tired of the Oaxaca-only canon
Where to buy online
We found this bottle at 1 US retailer. Prices and stock vary – click through to check.