GUINIGI

Spirit Reviews

94

Nosotros Tequila Blanco, Mexco ($45)

With a nose of salted berries, vanilla, and pungent agave, the palate offers a silky, buoyant texture. Sourced from the Highlands and Lowlands, this expressive spirit exhibits notes of vanilla bean and a whisp of black pepper. A finish of herbs, lemon, and charred peach has a glossy feel on the mouth.

94

Nosotros Tequila Reposado ($50)

Aromas of gingerbread and butterscotch-kissed agave. A toasty entry, with butterscotch threading through ripe apricot. Agave notes slip through the sweetness and the finish is broad and lengthy with a splash of cinnamon

92

Roulette Straight Rye ($30)

This four-year aged rye shows expressive notes of sarsaparilla, toffee, and orange peel on nose and palate. A bite of cracked peppercorn is soothed by a stream of caramel apple. Perky, with a finish of sandalwood, banana, and mango.

97

Se Busca Añejo Mezcal Artesanal, Mexico, 80 Proof ($70)

Perfumed, with earthy jasmine, Pekoe tea, and smoky cedar. Floral notes persist on the palate, addressed by a minerality that translates as gunpowder. Walnut nougat adds exquisite texture and a sweetness, unmasking opulent baked agave. Seductive, with a long finish.

93

Se Busca Joven Mezcal Artesanal, Mexico, 80 Proof ($42)

Cigar box and roasted coffee are bold notes from this young mezcal. Muscular and peppered, it mellows out with vanilla and earth, just touching the sweet spectrum of vanilla bean on the long finish.

97

Tres Tribus Ensamble Mezcal, Joven, Mexico, 88 Proof ($65)

Crafted from wild and cultivated agave, the trio of magueys is distilled from 8-year-old Espadin, 10-15 year old Jabali, and the rare Salmiana silvestre with an age range of 15 to 35 years. Lavender and jasmine light up with a perfume veiled in a wisp of smoke. Raspberries, mocha, and espresso zero in on first sip, decidedly prickly with a sprinkling of black pepper.

97

Tres Tribus Mezcal Tobalá, Oaxaca, Mexico, 88 Proof ($90)

Distilled from plants that average ten years, this single agave varietal mezcal offers a sweet perfume of marshmallow, blueberry, and lavender. The delicate whisper of smoke is greeted by jasmine. A prickle of pepper dots the tongue, with a long-lasting engagement of its silky mouthfeel.

96

Villa One Añejo Tequila, Mexico, 80 Proof ($50)

Slow cooked agave is double-distilled and aged for more than 12 months in American oak. Aromas of orange peel, mango, and honeyed agave are ultra-luxe. Suede textured with a spicy “grip,” notes of passion fruit and peppermint are unique. A continuing perfume of pineapple and brown sugared pecans accompany every sip.