Nose: Cooked and raw agave lead the way, with a sharp hit of pickle brine that adds a savory edge. There’s a clear sense of earthiness, backed by charred wood, peppermint, and fresh herbaceous notes. It’s layered and complex. Palate: This is packed with flavor. Sweet agave & spicy fresh chile pepper hits first, followed by crisp cucumber and sweet bell pepper. The smoke is subtle but present. The mouthfeel is full and satisfying, delivering real depth without being too heavy. Finish: Long & spicy. The heat lingers, balanced by a surprising and refreshing cucumber note and a final echo of agave. Overall: A standout that’s full of character. Complex, vibrant, and expertly balanced from start to finish.

Ash, firewood, earth, brine/olives. Finish is oily.

Whoa. This is unique. I'm so glad I went into this blind. I knew it wasn't a mezcal but it definitely tastes like one. N- iodine, smoke, agave, citrus, anise and pine T- the exact same thing only the agave has a touch of sweetness to it. This is insanely unique. MF- oily F- Long pepper and anise V- Meh Once I was able to read the label it explained the smoke and the pine. This is very unique and something everyone should try. The price is steep and I personally can't justify buying another bottle but to some it might be worth it.

Lot 11 From the valley of Jalisco comes Siembra Valles Ancestral. This tequila is unlike any other tequila available today. As the name indicates, this expression places emphasis on ancestral techniques tequileros used before tequila was industrialized to meet the growing demand of the US market. This is what tequila tasted like before the Sauza family famously began smuggling their then mezcal onto a newly accessible train station in their hometown of Tequila, Mexico. The DNA of a valley tequila is here, but the production methods add layers of complexity. This is an indulgent tequila, cooked agave is present in a backdrop of pine smoke. Mud, minerality, dirt, earthy pepper, wet clay, rosemary, muddled mint, anise, vegetal notes, and dark chocolate s’mores. Cinnamon spice comes through on a lengthy finish. Different, yet distinctly valley Jalisco. One of the best tequilas I’ve ever had.

Nose- smoke, cooked agave, anise, alcohol Palette- smoke, black pepper, cooked agave, earthy Finish - smoke, pepper, anise, alcohol, medicinal

Musty agave nose, unique palate. Slight bitterness and smoke. Pepper on the finish

Nose: agave / pepper / smoke / minerals / earth / apple / lemon / bell pepper/ lemon grass / lavender/ alcohol Taste: agave sweet / so delicate!! / incredibly balanced flavors / smoke / earth / apple / touch of citrus / spearmint/ touch of salt Finish: watery clean with almost no viscosity/ quick clean finish that even removes a lot of the smoke/ lingering soft sweet agave flavor and a cinnamon like after taste This is a treat for everyone except those who don’t like smoke. There’s a great flavor and aroma on this tequila and it is well balanced. It’s very much able to make the smoke a supporting role that then amplifies the other flavors snd smells. It’s possible that if the smoke wasn’t there that many people might think it to be a favorite blanco.

Tasted this one blind on a Fuerte Friday. So this one is going to be great for some people and for others it will not be their cup of tea. On the nose there is smoke. After getting through the smoke you can find some agave. It is earthy and vegetal. Taste is once again, smoke. Sweet agave does come through on the taste. You do get a strong hit of alcohol. Other tastes that stand out are citrus, black pepper and olive. Has a nice mouthfeel. Finish is still strong on the smoke with a bit of mint. I you are a Mezcal fan. This is a tequila for you.

Smoke, ash, agave, salt

Lot 06 | Lot 6 - great bright nose, agave, herbs, spices, on palette delicious, initial light smoke hint, some clay/earth notes, then herbs, agave, more sweet smoke on mid & back end, just a treat to sniff & sip. Easy buy for $120 +/-

Blind Tasting; ( 85 due to complexity ) The aroma does not appeal to me Smoke, tobacco, light ethyl, medicinal The smell of smoke in the glass ( I instantly thought of Mezcal ) berry ,citrus ,mint ,subtle anise ,faint note reminiscent of cooked pineapple, unsweetened cacao Finish is vegetal like celery, the smoke still clings with vanilla, minute minerality and pepperiness on tongue. The taste of smoke lingers on the palate for a noticeably substantial amount of time after drinking. Does not drink like any high proof I’ve had, a unique tasting experience indeed.

It is insanely good with blasts of pure sugar. Not overly smokey, and made in traditional old world ways, and this is truly something to behold

lot 2 June 2016 bottle 2545 total liters 3335 50.2 abv smokey like a campfire but not in a bad way like some mezcals are too smokey

Lot 03 | Mesquite all day, this is such a nice treat if you want something off the beaten path. The ending lost me a little bit but I found my way back with all the sweetness that comes out to play on the back of my tongue. I hope more projects like this find their way to market, it’s a fun experience.

Lot 04 | Lot 4. Aroma of agave, minerals, smoke, clean herbs and citrus. Flavor, boom, pow! The agave and smoke is first to hit followed by alcohol punch. Not overbearing but prevalent. Then everything starts to meld, herbs, earthy agave, minerals galore. Finish tastes faintly reminiscent of Derrumbes San Luis Potosi with a jalapeño popper like uniqueness. You can literally taste the craftsmanship and effort. A unique change of pace.

Sweet, smoky, juicy mouthfeel, long finish. Seek it out.

Lot 03 | Beautifully smokey and sweet with earthy and vegetal notes. Different than most tequilas but a high end sipper for me.

On the nose, it’s smoky, earthy, and very clear baked agave. Getting some herbal notes, and that clear and distinct mesquite melds with a minerality that I find very pleasing. On the palate, Smokey, peppery, cooked agave coming in strong. Has a note that reminds me of BBQ. Definitely some bite, but surprisingly subtle for such high proof. Definitely a bit of a brineyness but it comes and goes. Some charcoal. Full bodied and oily. Very interesting, if you gave me this and said it was a mezcal, I’d believe you. It definitely has some distinct tequila specific notes (yes, I’m aware tequila is a mezcal but you know what I mean!) but very different. I’d definitely put this in my mezcal section in my bar. Very interesting and enjoyable, but too mezcal like for my liking.

Lot 02 | Wow… I really like this. Definitely some smoke on the nose,fruit, and pepper Taste of light smoky wood (cedar bbq type), fruitiness (apricot), little vanilla,light pepper on the back end. Very nice

Lot 03 | Aroma: Citrus and black pepper are most prominent, with a slight bit of smoke. Taste: Slightly sweet and citrusy. Finish: A dry finish with black pepper and smoke, with a slight alcohol burn, well balanced. Overall: A delicious, rediscovered way to make tequila. It drinks like something in between a high quality blanco tequila and a mezcal. I personally prefer it with a slight bit of lime and agave nectar.

Lot 01 | Excited to try this after so long looking for it. Cantina Mayahuel had a bottle of lote 1 and we got the last sip (thanks mark). Aroma is good but overpowered with smoke (yes I know how it’s made in the “old way”). Taste is good but nothing notable. Finish is short but with some good Smokey flavor.

Lot 02 | Lot 2 | Very unique tequila that drinks more like mezcal. You can tell a lot of care and effort went into making this. Smoke is definitely there as you’d expect from the production method but it doesn’t completely overwhelm the other flavors. I’d say the same about the alcohol, it’s there but doesn’t overpower. I get a good bit of minerality and brine. Some mint and citrus on the back end. Overall this is a really fun tequila and one that I’ll come back to.

Lot 02 | Siembra Valles Ancestral I smell smoke and agave. There are also some earthy notes and plenty of depth. I taste the smoke first but the clean sweet agave is right behind it. The minerals come through on the mid-palate along with black pepper that linger into the long finish. This is a special tequila with a lot of depth. The agaves are cooked in an pit over for over 100 hours. It’s then hand macerated with wood mallets. It’s fermented in both a 5000 liter oak barrel and a brick vat. The 1st run is distilled in a copper pot while the 2nd run utilizes a pine wood Filipino style still. Lot# 2 - 100.4 proof - 50.2 ABV - NOM1123

Lot 02 | True to its name ... Ancestral, hand made, traditional, generationally made tequila. This is what tequila must of tasted like 100 plus years ago. Hand crushed, pit roasted, 80 hrs of fermentation. 100 ABV! Great light aromas of smoke, light citrus, cooked agaves, balanced alcohol!

Lot 03 | Lote #03 Nov-Dec 2016. 50.2% ABV Nose: Smokey rich agave wrapped in anise, citrus and mint. A touch of green pineapple. Crisp mineral and cellar notes. Piercing herbal aromas: rosemary, thyme and celery. All in perfect harmony. Flavor: Smokey and oily with a silky roundness on the palate. Tingling pepper kick with star anise licorice and heat. Meaty, salty feel to this profile. Some teases of baking spice. Lote 03 Ancestral is a wake up call to my jaded palate. Lingering finish with all elements in synch.