Reviews / Xicaru Tobalá
Review · · by The Editors
Xicaru Tobalá
A competent tobalá from a producer that plays to the middle
Score: 3.0/5 agaves
- Producer: Total Wine Spirits Direct, Xicaru Mezcal
- Maestro: Fernando Santibañez
- Region: Santiago Matatlán, Oaxaca
- Agave: Tobala
- ABV: 47%
- Price: $70 ($$)
Verdict
Xicaru's tobalá is technically correct mezcal – the agave is legible, the proof is right, the bottle is pretty. What's missing is a point of view. Banhez Tobalá delivers more character for less money, and the Wild Common ensamble shows what tobalá can add to a blend. Pass unless you're building a brand-comparison flight.
Tobalá you can describe but probably won't remember
Tasting notes
Nose: Honey with floral topnote, faint smoke
Palate: Medium-weight at 47%, the tobalá showing up cleanly but without the stony lift the best expressions carry. Polished, slightly generic
Finish: Lightly sweet, a touch short. Medium
The bottom line
Pass. Banhez tobalá does the same work at a friendlier price
Where to buy online
We found this bottle at 3 US retailers. Prices and stock vary – click through to check.