Mezcal is one of the most complex spirits in the world. The diversity of agaves, elaboration styles and flavors used to make this elixir is fascinating. As a mezcal lover, one of my favorite ways to drink it is to sip a little of a lot. That’s why we put together a variety of mezcal tasting sets. Each package includes a carefully selected assortment of small batch agave spirits that curate a diversity of flavors, traditionally regional processes and legacy mezcaleros.
How To Pick The Best Mezcal Gift Set?
Most mezcal that makes its way to the U.S. is from the agave variety espadin, scientifically known as a subspecies of the angustifolia agave. Espadin is the fastest growing and most widely cultivated variety. Most commercial brands that offer a tasting box like Casamigos mezcal gift set or El Silencio mezcal balance their spirits to a consistent 40% to 43% alcohol by volume, bringing the proof down with water. Even the Clase Azul Mezcal Durango and Guerrero are cut to 40% and 42% made in batches of over 1,000 liters. Adding water dilutes the flavors, produces more product and takes away from the spirit's purity. That said, amongst espadin alone, you can get a wide variety of flavor notes, viscosities and aromas depending on the terroir of the region and the hand of the maker.
If you look for it, you can find small batch high proof expressions that aren’t cut with water and feature other varieties of agave, each with its own unique flavor profile. Luneta's batch sizes range from 80 to 250 liters and are never cut with water.
When considering which mezcal tasting set is right for you or the person you want to give it to, consider their knowledge of the agave spirits and flavor preferences. If you know you like a certain agave or enjoy a certain region or maybe even a specific mezcal producer, that will help you find the right set.
The great thing about mezcal, especially the small batch and high proof expressions, is that each batch is unique and the flavor journeys expansive. Here you’ll find several sets that we offer for folks just starting to discover rare varieties and styles as well as agave aficionados.
Mezcal Tasting Set
Luneta mezcal tasting box features five 50 ml pours of rare heirloom agave expressions. The kit includes an ensemble mezcal of agaves Verde+Chino from San Luis Potosi fermented in a stone vessel with pulque and distilled in a three part clay pot still. It also includes a Papalometl from Puebla, fermented in cow hide and distilled in a Filipino style still that has a hollowed out coral tree trunk as the neck of the still. Additionally. It showcases an expression made with the agave Mexicano variety from Oaxaca made by Berta Vazquez, one of the most renowned female mezcal producers in the world. Berta makes her mezcal by roasting below ground with mesquite and volcanic rock, fermented in cypress wood and twice distilled in a small copper pot still. It also includes a Cuishe and a Tobala made by Angelica Garcia Vasquez, Berta’s daughter-in-law, who works with similar processes as Berta.
This is a great way to taste rare small batch agave spirits for a relatively affordable price. If you were to try any of these expressions in a bar or restaurant it would cost you $25 to $50 per pour. This set serves two people and is a great opportunity to expand your perception and compare different regions, agaves, fermentation vessels and still types. The tasting kit starts at $59.99 with the option to include hand blown glass Copitas for an additional $20.
Connoisseurs Set:
If you are more familiar with small batch agave spirits or want gifts for mezcal lovers, the Luneta Connoisseurs set is a great option. It includes three 375 ml hand blown glass bottles containing the Verde+Chino, Papalometl and Mexicano described above. The larger format bottles allow the sipper to dive deeper into each expression, not to mention the unique craftsmanship of the bottles make this a great gift. The connoisseurs set is available for $249.96 and includes hand blown glass copitas.
Berta Vasquez Mezcal Gift Set:
Berta Vasquez is in her mid 60s and learned to make mezcal from her grandfather when she was a young child. Her spouse was a mezcalero. When he died, she took on the role of lead distiller, also known as Maestra Mezcalera. In recent years, Berta has been written about in critically acclaimed media outlets such as Forbes, Vice and more. In addition to Berta’s tragic and rich history, she is a master at extracting flavors and aromas from a wide variety of rare agaves.
This mezcal gift set offers aficionados the opportunity to explore three of Berta’s one of a kind expressions including Mexicano, Barril+Tepeztate and an ensemble of Cuishe+Tobala+Tepeztate+Espadin. Each of the three bottles are packaged in hand blown 375 ml recycled glass bottles. This tasting set is coming soon and will be available for $215.98.
Why Is Mezcal So Expensive?
You can find a bottle of mezcal for $30 dollars. Why are these gift sets so expensive? The $30 mezcal available at large retail outlets is made in large batches. Big companies seek the highest yield and cheapest price wherever possible. Sometimes they even use processes like diffusers to extract all they can. The expressions featured in this set are made in micro batches by families that have been utilizing traditional techniques for at least three generations. They are unadulterated and contain no water or additives and utilize rare and slow growing varieties of agaves. The laborious craftsmanship that goes into each of these liquid gems yields a richness of flavor and history worth every penny.