Notes: This mezcal is produced in Oaxaca, the traditional area in Mexico for mezcal. This is one of the Anejo expression of this particular mezcal line – all of which are single barrel bottlings of 100% agave. This Anejo (aged) version spends one year aging in a oak barrel of less than 200 liters. They also import numerous other mezcals that we will be reviewing. They also import numerous other mezcals that we will be reviewing (see our reviews of the Scorpion Silver, Scorpion Resposado, Scorpion Anejo Three Star, Tejuana Silver, Tehuana Anejo, Embajador Anejo, Embajador Silver, Don Juan Escobar Reposado, Mistico Silver, and Mistico Reposado).

Appearance: Dark amber color in the bottle. If it was maple syrup, it would be a medium amber. It is a beautiful thing! On swirling, it leaves a very light coating on the glass which belies its viscosity. Sitting in the glass, it looks like a small puddle of sap or nectar.

First Impression: Very smoky and more understated than the others. Smells like a tin of just opened sobranie tobacco, with strong Phenol and smoke.

Taste: Dry and sweet at the same time somehow, with lime, leather, oil, and smoke, and a suggestion of mint. Resinous on the tongue, and mouth feel. It whispers down the throat, and then leaves a rather delicate burn considering the 80 proof, with a smoky spicy aftertaste like a really good tobacco and spicy notes.

Drinks: Straight up as it was meant to be. It would be a waste of good mezcal.

Cigars: Good with a light bodied cigar or a nice sobranie cigarette.

Bottle: Simple oil-can shaped bottle. It has a somewhat antique or low tech feel to it . Has a tiny sombrero hanging from it. I usually take that as a warning sign if I see things like that, but in this case it does make the bottle easier to find.

The scorpion on the label makes it easy to see and of course, the scorpion in the bottle is kind of a stand out (see photo below). (Don’t worry, it’s only an exo-skeleton without a stinger!) The bottle fits nicely in the hand when you grip it- the decorative impresions at the top and bottom of the main area provide a nice tactile feel. Nice balance to it.

Final Thoughts: Will change anyone’s mind about what mezcal is about, or can be! Excellent mezcal at an amazing price.

Website: http://www.scorpionmezcal.com/

Fast loading with a display of all the Mezcals they import (more than twelve!).
Basic information and pictures of each one, with reviews and ratings by different people and organizations. Rather basic, but functional. They spent the money on what is inside the bottle, and not slick web page programming .