Notes: This mezcal is produced in Oaxaca, the traditional area for mezcal and it is organically farmed and sourced from a single village. This mezcal is traditionally made (read agave roasted in a pit and the pinãs crushed by a horse driven stone mill wheel).

Appearance: Clear as molten glass in the bottle. It is a beautiful thing. On
swirling it leaves a very light coating on the glass then transforms into many sparkling droplets and a puddle of clear liquid at the bottom of the glass.

First Impression:Smoke, thai lime leaves, citrus, salt. It reminds me of some of those salt and herb mixtures you find in Provence or further south in France but with a smoky overlay.

Taste: Incredibly smoky, salty and vegetal, almost fibrous, heavy almost phenolic, tarry smoke and mineral salts at the end. Aficionados of Bruichladdich and other heavy duty Islay single malt scotches would love this stuff.

Drinks: Despite our best efforts I found only one mezcal cocktail (in Gary and Mardee Regans New Classic Cocktails). However, I think that there are some definite possibilities for substituting this for scotch in some cocktails to create a whole new family of cocktails-please see our recipes section for some of our ideas.

Cigars: A nice full-bodied cigar.

Bottle: Simple cylindrical shaped clear glass bottle with slightly flared at the shoulder then necking down.all over the surface. Label and hand blown bottle from recycled glass give it a somewhat antique or low tech feel to it, but shows the mezcal in it to good effect.

No larvae or arachnids in it either unlike most others- just good Mezcal.

Other: This spirit is part of remarkable portfolio of the Domaine Select Classic and Vintage Artisanal Spirits Collection along with the following spirits we have already reviewed Averna Sambuca , Averna Limoni , Castarède VSOP Armagnac, Castarède Selection Armagnac, Deaths Door Vodka , G Vine Floraison , G’ Vine Nouaison , Macchu Pisco, Ransom Old Tom Gin, Rhum J. M. Blanc , Rhum J. M. Gold , Rhum J. M VSOP , Rhum J. M. Vieux , Stranahan Colorado Whiskey, Suprema Grappa along with others we have not yet reviewed but hope to in the future, given the quality of what we have already reviewed.

We applaud Domaine Select in spearheading a conscious decision to assemble a portfolio of artisanal spirits and to provide distribution and access to such a group of spirits to the trade and consumers. If only other companies did such a thing we would all be drinking in a better world.

Final Thoughts: A delicious if a challenging mezcal to drink. This one will “put hair on your chest” with full-on smokiness.
Website: http://www.sombraoaxaca.com

Fast loading with good information and pictures of each step of the process,
with reviews, ratings and where to buy it. A touch basic but informative if not flashy – they spent their money making a good product not a flashy website.