Salvadores Cirial

Verdict

Cirial is a rare karwinskii that most U.S. drinkers haven't tasted; Flavio Pérez Méndez bottles it at 48% and the agave's specificity earns the shelf space. This is the sleeper in the Salvadores catalog, more distinctive than the tobalá, more rewarding than the tepextate. 4.4 consensus rounds up fairly to 4.5.

Tasting notes

Nose: Wet limestone up front. White pepper, faint lime blossom, a cool herb underneath

Palate: 48% gives cirial's unusual karwinskii profile the proof it needs, more austere than cuishe, more floral than tobaziche, saline through the finish

Finish: Cool, mineral

The bottom line

Worth the hunt. Cirial done well is rare