Pescador de Sueños Madre Cuishe

Verdict

Madrecuishe asks the mezcalero to not screw it up, the plant has already done the work of fifteen-plus years, and cheap distillation wastes that time. Leoncio Santiago doesn't waste it. The bottle reads like a long exhalation: vegetal, mineral, unhurried. We'd set it alongside Real Minero's karwinskii work and Lalocura's madrecuishe and let the drinker choose a favorite. All three are serious.

Tasting notes

Nose: Green bell pepper up front. Wet granite, dried herbs smoldering over low heat underneath

Palate: Sappy, vegetal, deeply karwinskii. At 49% the plant's slow maturation shows up as structure, not weight, the liquid feels old without feeling heavy

Finish: Long, dry, mineral, with a faint menthol breath

The bottom line

Serious karwinskii for the serious shelf. If it's on the shelf, take it