92 points Wine Enthusiast
A classic unaged mezcal: clear, with fresh, grassy aromas of green chile pepper and a slight whiff of smoke. The flavors reflect sweet and fruity, then spicy and smoky, finishing with spicy anise and alcohol burn. A fine base for a citrusy cocktail. (12/2010)
K&L Notes
*95 points, Ultimate Spirits Challenge Top 100 of 2020* San Luis Del Rio mezcal has a spicy, fruity and smoky nose with a high note of citrus. It is smooth and warming to the palate with a clean finish. San Luis Del Rio is the name of the village where this fine Mezcal is produced. Del Maguey, Ltd. Co. is the only producer in the four hundred years of Mezcal production that has credited the name of each village where the Mezcal is made. Two hours south of Oaxaca on a two-lane, pot holed highway en route to the Gulf of Tehuantepec is the turnoff to San Luis Del Rio. Then after another two hours on a winding, rocky, dirt road, the pueblo (village) is at an elevation of approximately 8,000 feet. It is a narrow, hot valley, with steep slopes full of Maguey Espadin. The Rio Hormiga Colorada (Red Ant River) flows through it. You may see Paciano Cruz Nolasco tending his fields. Above the large fields of Maguey, the tops of the mountains are scattered with cornfields, iguanas crawling across the road, the trees and cactus with Bromeliads growing on them. Del Maguey was named “Distiller of the Year” at the 2011 San Francisco World Spirits