A nice step up from the silver without a leap in price.
Notes: This mezcal is produced in Oaxaca, the traditional area in Mexico for mezcal. This is the Reposado expression of this particular mezcal line – all of which are single barrel bottlings of 100% agave. The Reposado (Rested) version spends 6 months aging in oak barrels. They also import numerous other mezcals that we will be reviewing (see our reviews of the Scorpion Silver, Scorpion Anejo One Star, Scorpion Anejo Three Star, Tehuana Silver, Tehuana Anejo, Embajador Silver, Embajador Anejo, Don Juan Escobar Reposado, Mistico Silver, and Mistico Reposado).
Appearance: Oak 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: Smoky and more understated and delicate than the Scorpion Silver. Dry, with a bouquet of lime, citrus, and cucumber – salt, and savory herbs, and on more warming: char, creosote, some spiciness. The oak aging even at only 6 months shines through.
Taste: Dry and sweet at the same time somehow, with citrus, leather, dry smoke and lime, hints of cardamon, nutmeg. It is resinous on the tongue and mouth feel, whispers down the throat and then leaves a rather delicate warming considering the 80 proof. It has a smokey, spicy aftertaste like a mesquite campfire. This is amazingly complex stuff- very smooth and too easy-to-drink.
Drinks: Don’t mix it. It would be a waste of good mezcal.
Cigars: Good with a light bodied cigar.
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 exoskeleton 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.
Bottle fits nicely in the hand when you grip it – decorative impresions at the top and bottom of the main area provide a nice tactile feel. Nice balance to it.
Final Thoughts: This series of mezcal will change anyones 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.