Sin Gusano Tobala

Verdict

Gilberto Vásquez made this tobalá at eighteen, which ought to read as a novelty and instead reads as a debut. Sola de Vega's clay-pot tradition means the still does half the flavor work, but the agave selection and distillation discipline here are already adult. Track this bottle alongside Real Minero's tobalá to watch Gilberto's career emerge.

Tasting notes

Nose: Honey, wet stone, green melon

Palate: 48% and clay distillation give this more weight than the usual tobalá, floral sweetness, mineral depth, the barro texture making the mid-palate oilier than copper versions deliver

Finish: Floral, chalky. Stays long

The bottom line

A debut worth tracking. Buy before the name outpaces the price