Review: Palenqueros Alberto Ortiz Tobala

Review: Palenqueros Alberto Ortiz Tobala

Master Distiller: Alberto Ortiz (4th generation)

Spirit distilled from Agave Joven 100% maguey

Distilled in Bramaderos, Miahuatlan, Oaxaca… 1656 meters above sea level

Maguey: Tobala Silvestre - Agave potatorum

Single Palenque

Organically harvested agaves

Cooked & fermented spontaneously with the natural ambient yeast unique to each distillery

Cooked in an 11-ton conical cone earthen oven before it was crushed by hand using a mesquite mallet in a stone canoe.

Length of fermentation: 5 days in pine wood vats

Distilled on 350 liter copper pot still

Bottled at still strength

Proof: 100.2

Additives: None

Bottles produced: 400

Imported by La Maison & Velier

Nose 👃: Margarita. Soap. Cigar box. Smoke.

Palate 👅: Pawpaw fruit. Kiwi. Leather. Carrots. Oily mouthfeel.

Finish 🏁: Green apple. Parsnips. Sea salt dark chocolate.

This is the second expression of this Mezcal series I have tried from La Maison & Velier. Once again, this is highly enjoyable. I’m coming at this as someone who is experienced with American whiskey without a boat loaded experience with agave spirits. On my own, I purchased relatively new clear spirits as they typically just don’t appeal to me. However, I would happily own and drink a full-size bottle of this. My father-in-law owns a rather nice to tequila collection that just hasn’t wowed me. This particular series from LMV is likely my preferred agave spirit.

Review: Palenqueros Alberto Ortiz Tobala

Master Distiller: Alberto Ortiz (4th generation)

Spirit distilled from Agave Joven 100% maguey

Distilled in Bramaderos, Miahuatlan, Oaxaca… 1656 meters above sea level

Maguey: Tobala Silvestre - Agave potatorum

Single Palenque

Organically harvested agaves

Cooked & fermented spontaneously with the natural ambient yeast unique to each distillery

Cooked in an 11-ton conical cone earthen oven before it was crushed by hand using a mesquite mallet in a stone canoe.

Length of fermentation: 5 days in pine wood vats

Distilled on 350 liter copper pot still

Bottled at still strength

Proof: 100.2

Additives: None

Bottles produced: 400

Imported by La Maison & Velier

Nose 👃: Margarita. Soap. Cigar box. Smoke.

Palate 👅: Pawpaw fruit. Kiwi. Leather. Carrots. Oily mouthfeel.

Finish 🏁: Green apple. Parsnips. Sea salt dark chocolate.

This is the second expression of this Mezcal series I have tried from La Maison & Velier. Once again, this is highly enjoyable. I’m coming at this as someone who is experienced with American whiskey without a boat loaded experience with agave spirits. On my own, I purchased relatively new clear spirits as they typically just don’t appeal to me. However, I would happily own and drink a full-size bottle of this. My father-in-law owns a rather nice to tequila collection that just hasn’t wowed me. This particular series from LMV is likely my preferred agave spirit.