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375ml
Bottle:
$34.44
12 bottles:
$25.64
Clear color. Aromas and flavors of sea spray and sharpie, green melon and green apple, lemon grass and chipotle, and...
375ml
Bottle:
$36.08
$37.98
12 bottles:
$27.35
AGAVE: Our agaves are 100% Espadín, grown for 8-9 years in Oaxaca, Mexico SLOW COOKING: Casamigos Mezcal is made...
375ml
Bottle:
$44.45
$46.79
12 bottles:
$43.70
On the nose, there are aromas of summer stonefruit, soft tea rose, and toasted red chiles peppers. The exotic tastes...
375ml
Bottle:
$44.45
$46.79
12 bottles:
$43.70
There are alluring aromas of pastry being prepared: wild honey, green apple peel, tart cider, fragrant pear, and...
375ml
Bottle:
$44.45
$46.79
12 bottles:
$43.70
This unusual pechuga is made with no animal fats or by-products, just a whole lot of fruits (wild apples, bananas,...
375ml
Bottle:
$30.79
12 bottles:
$28.50
The peppery scent suggests jalapeño and roasted tomato. Meanwhile, the palate shows a pineapple-like sweetness...
375ml
Bottle:
$75.60
12 bottles:
$66.12
Jabalí agaves are the most difficult, temperamental agave varietal to work with due to the foam – resulting from...
375ml
Bottle:
$57.17
$60.18
12 bottles:
$52.61
As with the (previously reviewed) resposado and joven expressions, Ilegal’s anejo is also mellow and elegant,...
375ml
Bottle:
$35.24
$37.10
12 bottles:
$30.69
Restrained, mellow, balanced, elegant —not something usually expected from the mezcal category. The aged mezcal has...
375ml
Bottle:
$22.74
12 bottles:
$17.22
The ripe, fruity style of this mezcal lends itself to making margarita variations and other cocktails. Look for...
Mavrodaphne Mezcal Mencia 375ml
In the Archaea region, high in the Northern Peloponnese mountains, the predominant grape varietal grown is the prized Mavrodaphne. Meaning 'Black Laurel', the Mavrodaphne grapes have extremely dark skins, and ripen slowly under the Greek sunshine, helped by the mineral rich soils the vines thrive in. This grape varietal is mostly used to produce the opaque, inky fortified wine of the same name, which is popular all over Greece and elsewhere in the world. This fortified wine allows the grapes to really show off their complex and fascinating flavors, which range from a rich marzipan to flavors of bitter chocolate, sweet coffee, dried figs and prunes, as well as plenty of jammy fruit notes.
Mavrodaphne is produced in a traditional method which involves leaving the grape juice exposed to the sun in large vats, before having its fermentation halted by the addition of various distillates taken from previous successful vintages. This mixture contains plenty of residual sugar, which gives the end result its characteristic sticky sweetness, and also helps with the next fermentation process, which typically takes place in large underground cellars. The final product is a heady drink, absolutely bursting with unusual, rich and sweet flavors and carried in a dark and slightly viscous Port-like liquid.
Mavrodaphne grapes are also used for the production of still red wines, but are generally blended with varietals such as Agiorgitiko or imported grapes like Cabernet Sauvignon. Mavrodaphne grapes are excellent for mellowing more acidic varieties, and producing deliciously rounded wines, which have taken the international market by storm in recent decades.
Additional Information on Greek Wines
Greek Wines
Ancient Greek Wines – A Brief History of Wine in Greece
The Myth of Dionysus, Greek God of Wine
What is Retsina?
Although commonly confused with Tequila, Mexico’s other signature spirit, Mezcal, has its own set of unique characteristics which set it apart. Mezcal is made from the agave plant, although not the blue agave most commonly associated with Tequila production. This drink hails from the arid southern Mexican region of Oaxaca, where it has been made for generations according to traditional recipes and methods, and continues to be extremely popular worldwide today.
One of the defining features of quality Mezcal is its pungent smokiness, a heady aroma which reminds us of campfires and desert nights. This comes from the fact that the pinas (the fruit body) of the agave used in its production are slow cooked in wood fired ovens, before being distilled into a spirit. Mezcal is traditionally bottled with a worm - why? Nobody really seems to know for sure, but this unique drink continues to attract attention and convert new fans thanks to its authenticity, unique flavor and supposed health benefits. It is split into the same categories as Tequila; blanco, reposado and anejo, and although it is often used as a mixer in cocktails, it is best enjoyed straight and uncomplicated, allowing its beautiful and subtle characteristics to shine.