Casamingos | Whisky Lady

After a crash course in tequila, we moved on to the second part: a tour of mezcal.

Mezcal is a traditional Mexican spirit distilled from roasted agave. Unlike tequila, which is made exclusively from Blue Weber agave and primarily in Jalisco, mezcal can be produced from dozens of agave varieties—most commonly Espadín—across several Mexican states, with Oaxaca at its heart.

What defines mezcal is its method. Agave hearts (piñas) are typically roasted in underground earthen pits, crushed, naturally fermented, and distilled in small batches. This process creates mezcal’s signature smoky, earthy character—though the level of smoke can range from subtle to intense depending on technique and producer.

Mezcal is broadly categorized by aging:

Joven (or Blanco): Unaged, showcasing pure agave and smoke
Reposado: Rested in oak, adding softness and spice
Añejo: Aged longer, offering richness and depth

Mezcal is best understood not as a single style, but as a category defined by region, technique, and tradition.

To help understand the different styles, we explored a Mezcal quintet of:

Ojo de Dios Joven Mezcal 45% £38
Casamigos Mezcal 40% ~£70
Ilegal Mezcal Reposado 40% ~£60
The Lost Explorer Mezcal (Espadín) 40% ~£60
Ilegal Mezcal Añejo (Special Edition) 40% ~£95

So what did we think?

Ojo de Dios Joven Mezcal 45%

Ojo de Dios Joven Mezcal offers a bolder, higher-proof expression from Espadín agave in Oaxaca. Despite its strength, it is quite balanced, combining earthy smoke with spice and cheese.

Nose: It greeted us with Pillsbury dough, then roasted pineapple, sweet grass smoke, and dried spice
Palate: Wow! So unique! It started as smoked ham, then settled on smoked cheese, joined by mocha and cinnamon, almost resinous
Finish: Dry

We set this one aside and came back to it repeatedly. There was something distinctly compelling about this mezcal. And though it became more and more ashy the more time it spent in the glass, the smoked cheese remained consistent!

Casamigos Mezcal (Joven) 40%

Casamigos Joven Mezcal is crafted from 100% Espadín agave grown in Oaxaca, Mexico, using traditional earthen pit roasting that lends gentle smokiness without overpowering the agave. Designed to be approachable yet authentic, it’s widely regarded as an excellent “gateway” mezcal for both curious newcomers and seasoned drinkers seeking balance over intensity.

Nose: Initially a bit herbal, then revealed lots of coffee, chocolate, dried fruit, even watermelon and apple, rather than citrus
Palate: Soft smoke, black pepper, roasted agave
Finish: Clean, light, and quite “green”, with a slight hint of smoke initially, yet by the 2nd sip closed on an ashy note

Sip neat first, give it time to open and reveal its ashy dry sweetness.

Ilegal Mezcal Reposado 40%

Ilegal Reposado Mezcal is made from 100% Espadín agave in Oaxaca and rested for approximately six months in oak barrels, softening the mezcal’s natural smokiness while introducing subtle sweetness and spice. This expression bridges traditional mezcal and aged spirits, appealing particularly to whisky and rum drinkers.

Nose: For us, despite the colour, we thought first of moonshine! Then grapes, followed by a bit of burnt caramel
Palate: A bit rough, bitter clove, a touch of wood, ash, orange peel
Finish: Limited and ashy

I gotta be honest, this didn’t work for us. I even scribbled in my notes that it was more of an “angry cask” than a gentle resting in oak.

The Lost Explorer Mezcal (Espadín) 8 Year 42%

The Lost Explorer Espadín Mezcal aims to highlight the natural sweetness of agave with restrained smoke. Produced in Oaxaca with sustainability at its core, it purports to offer a refined, elegant interpretation of mezcal. What we found was anything but this!

Nose: It began with a promising orchard fruit aroma with green apples, fresh herbs, and light smoke, then quickly shifted into wet coconut coir, vegetable compost – a polite way of saying rotting fruits and vegetables
Palate: Earthy, green zucchini
Finish: Thankfully limited

There was quite a strong negative reaction to this one. Once zucchini was mentioned, we just couldn’t shake it as the prominent flavour!

Our host openly admitted being lured by the age and curiosity. However, discovering a dud is just part of the spirits tasting journey.

Ilegal Mezcal Añejo (Special Edition) 40% 025/900, Lot 189

Aged for approximately one year in oak, Ilegal Añejo showcases a richer, more contemplative side of mezcal.

Nose: Very ripe red apples, maple syrup, dried fruits
Palate: Dark chocolate, roasted agave, toasted oak
Finish: Smoky-sweet closing on cinnamon spice

What a contrast from the Reposado! This was definitely a mezcal for the whisky fans – one person even compared it to sipping Jameson! We thought it could be nice to sip with just one ice cube. A treat to try!

It was a terrific range, with a range of reactions. Overall, The Lost Explorer had the most detractors, whisky lovers tended to favour the Ilegal Añejo, and the Ojo de Dios was clearly distinctive with its smoked cheese aroma and flavour!

Next up? Our 3rd and final part features a duo from Tapatío:

Tapatío Reposado Tequila 38%
Tapatio Excelencia Gran Reserva Extra Añejo Tequila 40%

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Our new year began with a departure from our usual whiskies to delve into an entirely different spirit – and exploration of tequila and mezcal!

We began our evening with a trio of Tequilas:

Leyenda del Milagro Silver Tequila 40% ~£22
Ocho Single Estate (2014) Tequila 40% ~£55
Casamigos Reposado Tequila 40% ~£57

For those not familiar, tequila is a protected Mexican spirit made exclusively from Blue Weber agave, distilled primarily in Jalisco and surrounding regions. While often associated with cocktails and shots, high-quality tequila is a nuanced sipping spirit, shaped by agave maturity, regional terroir, and production choices.

Unlike mezcal, tequila agave is typically steamed in brick ovens or autoclaves, rather than roasted, resulting in a cleaner, sweeter agave profile with less smoke. From unaged Blanco expressions that showcase pure agave character, to Reposado and Añejo styles gently influenced by oak, tequila offers a spectrum of flavor driven by balance rather than intensity.

At its best, tequila reflects patience, precision, and respect for raw material — a spirit best appreciated slowly, with attention to structure, texture, and finish.

So what did we think?

Leyenda del Milagro Silver Tequila 40%

Leyenda del Milagro Silver is an unaged Blanco tequila that highlights the pure character of Blue Weber agave. Crisp, vibrant, and expressive, it serves as an excellent reference point for understanding agave-driven flavor without oak influence.

Nose: Fresh floral aromas greeted us, agave, grapefruit, and herbal notes
Palate: Lime, white pepper, clean agave, minerals too
Finish: Crisp, dry, refreshing

It was a terrific starting point and Ideal as a baseline tequila in our tasting flight. I could see why they suggest it makes a great Margherita, with its fresh, fun, floral, and flavourful character!

Tequila Ocho Single Estate 2014 40%

Tequila Ocho’s single-estate, vintage approach treats tequila much like fine wine, emphasizing terroir and harvest variation. The 2014 release reflects its specific estate through expressive agave, minerality, and balance.

Nose: Cooked agave, citrus oil, pomelo, fresh cut grass, mineral notes
Palate: Like sipping a fruit salad – including tinned pineapples! It had an earthy agave, subtle spice of cloves, even a bit woody
Finish: Long, dry, mineral-driven, perhaps a puff of wood smoke?

If the Milagro Silver was floral, the Ocho was fruity on the nose! For a few folks, this was a clear winner. For others, the contrast between the delightful fruity fresh aromas vs the fruit joined by metallic and mineral elements on the palate was a bit too contradictory. For me, this is one to sip slowly and revisit — giving the tequila time to evolve in the glass.

Casamigos Reposado Tequila 40%

Casamigos Reposado Tequila is made from 100% Blue Weber agave and aged for approximately seven months in oak, resulting in a smooth, approachable profile that emphasizes sweetness and balance over intensity.

Nose: Caramel, pistachio paste, chocolate-covered rummy raisins, baked agave, ripe dates
Palate: Like chocolate mocha liqueur! Lots of vanilla extract, dried fruit, mild oak spice
Finish: Soft, mellow, gently sweet

With a light golden colour, it was clear we had progressed to a different style of Tequila with the Reposado. I could imagine just sipping this neat – like dessert in a glass!

Not being familiar with tequila, I found the reaction to Casamingo interesting as it was considered a bit “down market”, yet I thought it more than held its own!

Ready for our next part? Tune in soon for our focus on Mezcal with: