Death By Espadin, II: Caballito Cerrero, Bañuelos, La Luna, Burrito Fiestero, Pal'alma, Pelotón dlM

Last Friday I took you through six espadín-based mezcals from a variety of villages and producers in Oaxaca ( • Death By Espadin I, Oa... ). And if you thought that the same species of agave couldn't possibly produce any more variation than that then, well, this video is for you.
Today it's six more, this time from everywhere in Mexico except Oaxaca. And it's here that I realize that "Death by Espadín" really shouldn't be the name, as this lineup really amounts to a showcase of all the different regional variations of agave angustifolia. We've got agave distillates from Guerrero and Pueblo in the south, Durango and Zacatecas in the north, a michoacano, and even one from Jalisco of all places. Here we go:
- Caballito Cerrero Destilado de Agave Blanco 46, Chato (Amatitan, Jalisco; double distilled angustifolia, bottled circa 2022; 46% ABV), 82-/100
- Hacienda de Bañuelos Mezcal Tepemete (distilled by Jaime Bañuelos at NOM-Z73C, Zacatecas; double pot distilled angustifolia; lot 10, bottled circa 2019; 47.6% ABV), 86/100
- La Luna Mezcal Artesanal, Espadincillo (distilled by Isidro Perez Escot at NOM-M269C, Etucuaro, Michoacán; angustifolia double distilled in copper/pine filipino still; lot 81, bottled circa 2022; 48.51% ABV), 86+/100
- Burrito Fiestero Mezcal Ancestral, Castilla (distilled by Juan Manuel Conde at NOM-O316X, San Nicolas, Durango; angustifolia distilled in clay/wood filipino still; bottled circa 2021; 49.1% ABV), 89/100
- Pal'alma Destilado de Agave, Puebla, Espadilla Capon (distilled by Asunción Matilde Vargas, Puebla; angustifolia single distilled in clay/wood filipino still; bottled circa 2021; 50% ABV), 80+/100
- Pelotón de la Muerte Mezcal Artesanal, Criollo (distilled by Hector Obregon, Mazatlan, Guerrero; angustifolia double distilled inarabic and filipino still; bottled circa 2022; 50.2% ABV), 87-/100
Let's get the bottle with the silly dog on it out of the way first: the clay-distilled Burrito Fiestero Castilla is almost certainly the best angustifolia-based spirit I have ever tried, ever, and I'm hoping I can still get a bottle.
There was a big grouping of three in the middle, all of which scored similarly well. To my delight, Bañuelos - a producer I've been ambivalent about in the past (I reviewed other offerings at at • Mezcals That Aren't DM... and • Double Derrumbes: Zaca... ) - came out of nowhere with the best bottle I've ever had from them, sort of the Zacatecas equivalent of a bourbon-cask Islay. The Pelotón de la Muerte does not at all take well to water, but is otherwise quite good. And the espadincillo from channel fixture La Luna (reviewed at • Three Tequilianas: Ter... and • La Luna Mezcal Artesan... ) swims extremely well, with water bringing the sweetness out of an otherwise sour-driven angustifolia.
The other two just didn't much show up. The Caballito Cerrero is uncompromisingly green and vegetal, which is kind of fun, but you get a similar profile from rhum agricole for way less money. The Pal'alma is... well, ashy? And gets better with water?
And there you have it: twelve reviews of one agave over less than a week's time. And never let anyone tell you that espadín is boring.
Extra special thanks to my Different Spirits on Patreon ( / differentspirits ) -
Eric Amig
Jamie Brown
Kingsbury bushcraft
Rob D
Liam Davitt
Joe Devine
Stephen Eckert
eon Ingmar nine
Steve Frazee
Ian Gendler
John Halliday
Jason Newquist
Kyaru
No Thanks
Matthew Ruiz
RumSquirrel
Dallas Shatel
Chris Sherman
Gordon W
Zach W

[@jaylat4578]

Just picked up that La Luna on a whim. Super excited to try it

[@jaylat4578]

Great review. BTW

[@differentspirits4157]

Thanks! Enjoy, I think it's a ton of fun.

[@almageist]

There's loads of producers in Zacatecas. I'm starting to learn more about this state more recently and its fascinating. Recently discovered there's a fair amount of sotol production as well. Also I'm headed to see Juan Conde in two weeks. They've converted an old Hacienda into their vinata. Super excited to see their production!

[@differentspirits4157]

Apologies, I was joking in bad taste. 😅 What's odd is that this consistently seems to be the only producer I can find. Do you know of anyone else who makes it stateside?

[@almageist]

@@differentspirits4157 Stateside, no. There's lots in Mexico. These guys have a really interested setup

[@almageist]

@@differentspirits4157 ua-cam.com/video/DQizIgL2Tzo/v-deo.html&ab_channel=ZacatecanoSoy

[@almageist]

@@differentspirits4157 Generally Zacatecas went more the route of tequila like production and are more industrially. Similar things happened in Sinaloa and San Luis Potosi.

[@yankchef4067]

Are you wearing a nomos watch too?

[@differentspirits4157]

Actually, I think this was the day my wife asked me to wind up her Junghans for her (a present I bought her a few years ago) and I just threw it on while doing house duties. So Germany yes, but Nomos no! 😁