Nose: lactic acid…. Yogurt, over ripe fruit, (salt), barrel/baking spice Taste: pepper, earthy… some heat, vegetal and citrus- tart like grapefruit peel

Cazcanes nuestras raices First try (neck pour) was pungent and funky, more like a mezcal to me. Three days later, I'm revisiting, and it isn't as mezcal forward as i originally thought. I let it sit 20 mins to open, and the nose is more barnyard, hay and briney, with a punch of mint, than funky mezcal i got the first night. Palate is interesting. Very different. Some pine, like i get with a lot of mezcals and barnyard/hay and mint follows thru toward the end, with a fizzy, spicey finish. I understand why some would enjoy this. I'm giving it mid 80s because I appreciate it as a quality agave spirit, tho its not my profile preference.

Cazcanes no 9 anejo (this is the OTT sib; I didn't know where to rate it) Nose is amazing, sweet cooked agave, caramel, vanilla, barrel notes. Empty glass has mild anise Palate is very good. Sweet cooked agave, caramel, vanilla, barrel notes, whiskey Finish is nice, long and warm. Now this is in my wheelhouse of profiles.

This stuff is awesome! Super earthy and vegetal. I get a ton of raw pepper, black pepper, grass, minerality and earthiness on the nose and palette with a delicious lengthy finish that leaves you wanting more. Really complex. I was also able to try it at over 120 proof and that was legitimately some of the craziest/delicious stuff I’ve ever tried. Love that they went back to their roots to produce it in “the jungle”.