Reviews / Vago El Manantial
Review · · by The Editors
Vago El Manantial
The Barriga family's river-water espadín
Score: 3.5/5 agaves
- Producer: Vago Mezcal
- Maestro: Adán Barriga, Joelito Barriga
- Region: Hacienda Tapanala, Oaxaca
- Agave: Espadin
- ABV: 43%
- Price: $39 ($)
Verdict
El Manantial is Vago's gesture at water-source specificity, and the Barriga brothers' bottling, at 43% from the Tapanala spring, reads differently enough from the brand's standard espadín that the premise holds up. Not the most concentrated espadín in the Vago line, but a useful data point. Track it for the range, not for the singular bottle.
Water is a terroir variable. This bottle makes that legible
Tasting notes
Nose: Wet stone over cooked agave, stone, green herbs
Palate: With the Hacienda Tapanala water giving it a distinct mineral signature and the Barrigas' hand keeping the structure clean; mid-weight at 43%
Finish: Mineral, faintly sweet, long
The bottom line
An honest terroir study from the Barriga bench
Where to buy online
We found this bottle at 1 US retailer. Prices and stock vary – click through to check.