Tequila

Found a bottle of that stuff ^ in my bros room back home. If it's still there when I go back for his wedding it's mine.

Was enjoying Patron Cafe XO in the George Orwell with my brother in law a week or 2 ago.
That shit is niice.
Smooth and perfectly drinkable.
Can't find it I'm a shop though, I want/ need a bottle in my life

the liquor shops on old compton street
if they don't have it no one will

I once misunderstood the round buying system on a stag do and paid for a £200 bottle of tequila in that mexican place opposite BLB.

having blown all of my cash on something that should have gone on the collective tab i had to go round like a homeless person recouping £4 from everyone there.

every single fucker gave me £4 in change and i spent the next few hours with half a metric tonne of pound coins in each pocket.

*insert true story guy here

Mother-in-law bought me a bottle of Patron XO Café!
enjoying my first glass now.

She sounds like a game girl!

@ parry man
well ........ how was it ?

This needs a dredge as the Mezcal scene in London is pretty great these days (out of the lockdown that is) and the Mezcal thread recommends coming here instead.

Can get some good entry Mezcal at waitrose these days, Pensador is worth a look to begin with possibly. Also a nice selection at Whisky Exchange, Mezcal Amores Verde Momento is another good low price entry option, for those looking to branch out Del Maguey is very nice from all of their offerings. The Mestizo shop mentioned above has a good offering and wide choice and the bar has a great atmosphere too.

Keep an eye out for this year's London Mezcal Week, though might be tricky for it to go ahead unfortunately. They run an excellent tasting weekend with a lot of brands with talks and get some of the producers over to talk about their process. £35 to wander around, chatting to very interesting people and drinking a lot of Mezcal, the tacos are dope too. Was given the remnants of a 55% Clan55 last year that I've sipped on and still have some left which is a treat.

Finally Sin Gusano (https://www.singusano.com) are worth looking at for some very interesting and well curated Mezcals, and they run pop ups often that always have a great set up and Jon is insanely passionate about what they do and happy to share that with you.

Get peeps in the mood liek.

https://youtu.be/wKkj8AeRPus

Sitting in the sun, sipping some 7 Leguas, blanco, with a shot glass of lime juice, another of homemade sangrita, and some flakes salt on the side... feels like Mexico.

What's a good tequila/ mezcal for sipping neat?

I recently got into whiskys and feel a decent Mexican beverage would be a nice alternative.

Is there a £40 bottle that's worth it?

Pensador mentioned above could be a nice one to start on. Mezcal Union is also quite a nice one. You can get the Del Miguey Vida for £50 at Mestizo (or £45 at whisky exchange), as I say I'm a fan of all of their output and that is their entry level option. A good rounded selection at Mestizo across the price ranges (https://www.mestizomarket.com/drinks/mezcal.html).

It's tricky as like whisky there is a huge amount of variation in flavours depending on the everything like the agave used, the method to make it, location.

I think it's normally suggested to look out for an Espadin first as they're often the easier agave to start on.

A smaller bottle at 500cl but I'd say this offering from Sin Gusano might be a nice place to start as well https://www.singusano.com/shop/espadn-san-lus-del-rio-50cl-bottle

Yeah, been a while since I went through my mezcal taster box. Now I probably won't be able to find the notes so will have to do it all over again (oh noes!).

Do what I do a build up a tasting set of 'drams' from Masters of Malt. That way you get to find the flavour you like. The only thing I can now remember from my tasting set was the second highest ABV was one of the nicest, which surprised my missus when I told her the relative strengths.

This was the lot I got:

Del Maguey Mezcal Vida 3cl Sample £0.00
QuiQuiRiQui Matatlan Mezcal 3cl Sample £0.00
Mezcal Eterno Joven No.1 3cl Sample £0.00
Build Your Own Tasting Set £27.09
Pensador Mezcal 3cl Sample £0.00
Mezcal Vago Espadín 3cl Sample £0.00

Think it was Pensador we both liked the most.
https://www.masterofmalt.com/mezcal/pensador/pensador-mezcal/

Yeah the tasting session and pop ups are great to try out the different options and work out what you want. Though after about 40 tastings it gets a bit tricky to remember what you like. Speaking of the high ABV from your other reply, my mate got in a 57% that I tried on Sunday and despite smelling like nail varnish remover it tasted sublime.

The Vago Espadín was just over 50 but I don't think either of us rated it. I guess some stuff works at high abv some stuff doesn't. I try to take notes during the tasting(s) so that I have some idea of preference. Even if the latter half of most sessions my notes are just "fuckk yeahaah!"

For me some agaves can get a bit too funky tasting with a higher percentage I find, kind of sticks in the throat. My notes often start out sophisticated and clear and by the end will just be something along the lines of 'Like standing next to a steam train - tastes ace'

I remember being disappointed with the single-village one. Del Maguey. I think it was too sour. I don't know if that's what you mean by "funky". It's perhaps indicative of my limited mezcal knowledge but then again I like what I like and this wasn't one.

Yeah there's so many different profiles and combinations that one persons favourite will be another's worst. Not sure how to explain the funky flavour I taste with some of them, a bit like gasoliney almost or like composted grass kind of thing.

Still can't find any notes other than: https://twitter.com/firsthippy/status/1208480967318556672

Recently drank an enjoyable amount of an unknown mezcal (something my brother had kicking about) I have decided to take the plunge and ordered a little bottle of Madre Mezcal.

Only snack size, so if it's not great I only have a small amount to contend with.
Cool little bottle though.

snack size

:)