Just so you know, this post contains affiliate links. We do receive a small commission when you click on our links and make a purchase (at no extra cost to you). We always give our honest opinions, and these opinions are fully our own. See our Disclaimers →
Sababa Mezcal Artesenal
About Sababa Mezcal Artesenal
Sababa Mezcal Artesenal is produced by Sababa Mezcal. Their agave is sourced from a few different regions of Oaxaca including San Juan Del Río, Matatlán, Reforma Yautepec, and Santa Ana Del Río. It is grown for 10 years before being harvested.
Their current expression, a mezcal joven made of Espadín agave, is created by master mezcalero Francisco de los Ángeles. Although they don’t go into much detail about their production process, they do mention that the mezcal is double distilled using traditional stills. As a mezcal joven, it is not aged before bottling.
The brand also takes pride in their beautiful bottles, for which they teamed up with the Mexico City-based ceramics manufacturer Anfora. It is made of vitrified porcelain, and depicts an alebrije that is part owl, rooster, and bat.
Bottle Specs
❖ ABV: 45%
❖ Distillery: NOM-F145D
❖ Aging: None
❖ Price Point: lower moderate price
Tasting Notes
Nose:
❖ agave
Palate:
❖ fruity
❖ herbaceous
❖ smoky
My Tasting notes
Although I got a waft of alcohol heat when opening up the bottle, there was barely any on the nose once the mezcal was in the glass for a little while. I also found that the nose notes were very light and clean, with a whisper of something that resembled citrus.
While sipping this mezcal, the strength of the alcohol felt like a prominent feature. Despite my best efforts to swish properly, I could barely concentrate on the flavor notes until my small glass was 3/4 of the way empty. Overall, I found the flavor to be surprisingly clean and understated. The smokiness was delicate, with a very slight vegetal quality.
Cocktail
Mezcal Margarita
Ingredients
- 2oz Mezcal
- 1oz triple sec
- 1oz lime juice
- 1/4oz agave nectar
Instructions
- Add ingredients to a shaker filled with ice, and shake until chilled.
- Strain the mixture into a small glass.
Although my sipped experience with Sababa was not my favorite, I was pleasantly surprised with how magical I found it inside a cocktail. It simply made for an enjoyable and well balanced Margarita. The smokiness had a sweet and soft quality to it. The other flavor notes seemed subtle and non-distinctive, but tasted good against the lime and agave nectar.
Bottom Line
RATING: 3/5
At the end of the day, I have mixed feelings about Sababa Mezcal. Although I feel excited to enjoy this mezcal in many more cocktails, I also think that any bottle whose price approaches the hundred dollar mark should be judged with higher expectations than something in the neighborhood of $30-50 – which is the price range of mezcals we’ve reviewed so far on the blog. I just don’t feel that Sababa blew me away to that degree, especially when sipped. Moving forward, I will mainly be using it for mixing.
That said, the gorgeous bottle also adds a little wow factor that makes this product good for gifting. In fact, this was a holiday gift for me, and I still feel generally positive about it. However, if you’re looking to be blown away by the flavor of a mezcal, and plan on mainly sipping it, you may want to skip this bottle.
As always, drink responsibly.
Not Quite what you're looking for?
SEE OUR OTHER MEZCAL REVIEWS:
JOIN THE NEWSLETTER!
Get more from Let’s Drink It! by subscribing to our monthly email newsletter