Rey Campero Jabali (Clay Pot)

Item: Rey Campero Jabali (Clay Pot)
Rating: 4.5
Author: The Editors

The jabalí that set the category's benchmark, distilled in clay – even better

Score: 4.5/5 agaves

Producer: Rey Campero Mezcal
Maestro: Romulo Sanchez Parada
Region: Candelaria Yegole, Oaxaca
Agave: Jabali
ABV: 49.7%
Price: $150 ($$)

Verdict

Clay-still jabalí is the combination mezcal geeks argue about and producers usually duck – jabalí is already the agave that punishes shortcuts, and olla de barro multiplies the technical demand. Rey Campero's version isn't showing off, it's demonstrating. If you already love the standard jabalí, this is the upgrade that earns the upgrade's price.

Clay-still jabalí is an uncommon and excellent thing

Tasting notes

Nose: Hot clay with herbal density, faint cocoa

Palate: Dense, chewy-textured at 49.7% – jabalí in ancestral format rewards the effort

Finish: Endless. Drying, mineral, cooling

The bottom line

Upgrade over the standard Rey Campero jabalí if budget allows