Full Review

Xicala

Xicala
Anejo Mezcal

Category: Añejo Mezcal

Date Tasted:
Country: Mexico
Alcohol: 40%
94 Points
Gold Medal
Exceptional
$59.99

Xicala
Anejo Mezcal

Category: Añejo Mezcal

Date Tasted:
Country: Mexico
Alcohol: 40%
Brilliant gold color. Aromas and flavors of mocha flan and nougat, raisins and dates in vanilla cream, grilled coconut and tropical fruits, and smoked cheese with a silky, bright, fruity medium-to-full body and a smooth, complex, long finish evoking notes of spiced and smoked almonds, white cigar ash, pink and white pepper, and minerals. A gently smoky Añejo Mezcal with very appealing creamy, fruity agave; this will appeal to sipping rum drinkers as well as agave aficionados.

Tasting Info

Spirits Glass Style: Spicy, Rich, Fruity, Complex & Smoky
Aroma Aroma: mocha flan and nougat, raisins and dates in vanilla cream, grilled coconut and tropical fruits, and smoked cheese
Taste Flavor: Same as aromas with notes of spiced and smoked almonds, white cigar ash, pink and white pepper, and minerals
Smoothness Smoothness: Smooth
Finish Finish: Long
Enjoy Enjoy: Enjoy on its own
Bottom Line Bottom Line: A gently smoky Añejo Mezcal with very appealing creamy, fruity agave; this will appeal to sipping rum drinkers as well as agave aficionados.

The Importer

Global Beverage Team

The Importer
141 W. Jackson Blvd
Ste 1930
Chicago, IL 60604
USA
1 312-286-1487

Their Portfolio

86 Azteca Azul Plata Tequila 40% (Mexico) $24.00.
85 Azteca Azul Reposado Tequila 40% (Mexico) $26.00.
87 Maracame Plata Tequila 40% (Mexico) $39.00.
93 Maracame Reposado Tequila 40% (Mexico) $49.00.
93 Maracame Añejo Tequila 40% (Mexico) $59.00.
94 Xicala Anejo Mezcal 40% (Mexico) $59.99.
93 Xicala Mezcal Reposado Lot XR-001 40% (Mexico) $49.99.

Anejo Mezcal

Spirits Glass Copita Amber.jpg
Serve in a Copita
Añejo (literally "old") Mezcal has been aged for a legal minimum of twelve months in barrels. The finest examples however are usually aged from three to five years. Añejo mezcal can be either light, with a golden straw color or have an amber or golden yellow appearance.

The aging in barrels gives añejo mezcals flavors of roasted nuts, grilled fruits, pepper and tobacco. There is often a sublte smoky minerality in the finish; serve these neat in a crystal copita with cigars.

Mezcal is often confused with tequila, as both are made from agave. But while tequila must be made from one specific blue agave, mezcal can be produced from eighteen different types of agave (maguey). There are two types of mezcal, those made exclusively from maguey and those made from at least 80% maguey mixed with other ingredients. Mezcal has similar aging terms as tequila, such as reposado and añejo, but generally mezcal is more of an artisanal product, so examples of mezcal vary more than tequila.

Most are double-distilled, while some are triple-distilled and then aged for several years in oak barrels. Flavors range from smoked herbs and pepper to tobacco and charred fruits.