5 Sentidos Sierra Negra/Tobala "K&L Exclusive" Mezcal (uncertified) (750ml)

This is a very special blend of Sierra Negra and Tobala exclusive to K&L and we couldn’t be luckier. This Tobala, also known as “The King of Agaves,” was wildly harvested and blended with one of my favorite agaves, Sierra Negra. These two agaves offer very distinct and differing flavor profiles that help contribute to the fun characteristics you get out of this bottling. The nose reminded me of eating pickles, laying on a forest floor covered in pine needles. A nice clay minerality comes out from the distillation process and I got a subdued fruitiness from the Tobala, like the last bit of red on a watermelon rind. The palate exhibited a full texture and roasted agave sweetness. As it lingers on the palate, pine, spearmint, brine and fennel fronds found their way to the front, echoing traces from the nose. The finish develops a little more fruitiness, leaving you with a bright, sweet, tingly sensation.

This is a very tasty single cask selection. The nose is of wonderful agave aromas with citrus and savory enhanced with nice smoke notes. In the mouth it is very complex with savory, citrus and salty flavors and a touch of smoke. This all comes together in a pure and easy to drink spirit.

One of the rarest spirits on our shelf. It takes time and patience to fully experience the glory of this bottle of mezcal. I believe this bottle is the single most complex spirit we carry currently. Despite getting this in stock in early December, I've hesitated to write it up. It's taken almost a month to unlock the secrets here and I'm quite convinced I'm not done exploring. When you first open the bottle it is wildly tight and smoke driven. With time, air, and many visits, there is so much more. The fruit is robust, laden with mango, pineapple, kiwi, and other plush tropical goodies. There is a salty, stony mineral edge to the nose that continues through the palate and finish. It drives the entire experience, whether you've just opened the bottle or you've poured the last drop. The cooked agave flavors are bold. They're so rich and round that at times I've felt as though I'm nosing a glass of Cognac. There is eucalyptus and menthol, both piquant and refreshing. The smoke that was so prominent at the first open of the bottle has taken a back seat over the last several weeks. What was a raging fire burning bright has become a warm pile of coals, just about to burn out. The palate is spiced with both pepper and cinnamon, all the while that stone drive continues. At times I've been transported to childhood summers by the pool with a whiff of chlorine on dried skin - like the medicinal iodine of Laphroaig, but sweeter. Each time I pour a glass (over a dozen at this point) I'm confronted with new and beguiling flavors. While I've seen many a spirit open with time in the glass or a drop of water. I have never had the pleasure of such a complex and enticing tipple as this.

Well this is basically unfair. One of the rarest blends of ultra high quality "uncertified mescal" and it's all ours?! 5 Sentidos is doing everything right when it comes to bottling exquisite tiny batches of mescal. The idea was simple, work to find the best agave spirits and share them with a broader audience. This exceptional batch gave me the same feeling I had the very first time I tried authentic mezcal. Its wild rusticity and opulent complexity are unmatched in ANY white spirit. The nose is tight and linear at first. Powerful charred mesquite and roast pepper aromas. With some air the fruit and nuance comes through building into a heady bouquet of tropical green fruit, tall fresh grasses, smoked meats and charcoal. The palate is spicy, like they might have dropped a few habaneros in this batch, but the sweet fruit and deep enriching smoke stops it from feeling painful. It leaves you gasping for air and another sip. Absolutely purity of experience unlike any other spirit can deliver.

Is the garden on fire or is it just me? There's something fresh and floral going on here that gets overtaken by a very earthy aroma and some big bad smoke. These characteristics waffle back and forth playfully, so that one second the smoke seems dominant yet then here comes notes of freshly turned soil then flowers, and then back again. The palate offers these flavors and more, adding vanilla, a nice vegetal note, and soft fruits. The finish turns a touch spicy, but that spice cools rapidly leaving a lovely mouth tingle.