Come Shopping for Mezcal at Total Wine With Me!

[@ositofreitas]

Banhez is one of those rare widely distributed mezcal that is traditionally made and an ensemble at that price is an amazing value. Great for Mezcalitas too. Now another great value is the Bozal Ensemble and really anything they make in the 40-60 range.

[@Lui_Fern]

Yeah I was surprised at how widely available Bahnez is!

[@chrisdimal9869]

Ha, not outside the US. Only place you can get it outside of the US and Mexico (possibly) is Spain :(

[@AlanHMartin]

@@Lui_Fern You know that Bahnez delivers after seeing you try and screw the cork back into the bottle. 4:47 (I kid, I kid; LOL).

[@Lui_Fern]

@AlanHMartin 😅😅🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@AlanHMartin]

@@Lui_Fern My NJ brother-in-law told me of your channel and restaurant over the weekend. (When The Bride and I lived in Hudson in the early/mid-80's, we frequented the 401 Pub in your space; how many of your customers remember _that_?). We hope to stop by Ember and Alma when they visit us in the future; and we'll say howdy. In the meantime, Happy New Year and thanks for your forgiving nature...

[@jamesgrant]

I just picked up that Banhez as well. It's a solid choice and especially for the price. You could have picked up that Montelobos as well!

[@TheFubarFrenzy]

Ahh, yes. I bought this bottle of Banhez a year ago on a blind buy. I see they've updated their label. Very nice. First Mezcal purchase, so couldn't compare to anything else, but overall i like it in a smokey marg just fine. Thanks finally a legit review on it!

[@nicknorthcutt7680]

Love the original authentic content man

[@EventGuyFelix]

Banhez is my go to. Tastes great in drink too

[@Lui_Fern]

Glad you like that one

[@dznutz217]

I love Mezcal. I usually recommend Vida for new Mezcal drinkers because the smoke is minimal. My favorite sipping Mezcal is Mal Bien Espadin. The agave and smoke balance is incredible. I prefer Mezcal over Tequila....unless I have the perfection of Fortaleza!!!

[@SirBrass]

Del Maguey bloody maria, maybe? The smokiness would go really well with the pepper, Chipotle spices, Worcester, and tomato

[@MezcalBuzz]

They have a nice selection ! Great choice either way Banhez

[@RobBalazs]

I definitely need to explore mezcal more. I have 2 (Del Maguey Vida and Montelobos) that I use for cocktails. Been looking for a sipping mezcal! Maybe we’ll get to your place when we are up in late June/early July!

[@Lui_Fern]

Please do! I have quite a few bottles here you could try

[@jaylat4578]

Can't beat the Banhez for the price. Also glad I'm not the only psycho who sips on Vida 🤣

[@Lui_Fern]

Hahaha it's really good. And don't worry, we are together brother 🤜🏼🤛🏼

[@ToneDaBass]

@@Lui_FernI made a bad mistake and bought a bottle of Mi Mama Me Dijo based on the Wine Enthusiast score. Maguey Clasico blows it out of the water, I look forward to trying Banhez. Thank you!

[@sweetsinnndy5201]

Tried the Vida Classico as my first mezcal, loved it and I love the smell and taste of smoke. We do have Banhez at Binny's so when I kill the Vida, going to give Banhez a try. Thanks for the video.

[@philipdestroyer]

Thoughts on montelobos? Seems highly rated on the total wine website

[@lusario2650]

I really enjoy it a lot

[@jameslopez958]

Thanks for sharing this information Brother 😎! Will look for these at Total Wine in Tucson Arizona Desert 🤙🏽

[@ethereal-11.11]

Thanks, this is great stuff and is just as you described it! I too love the idea of supporting co-ops in these days of more and more unchecked corporate power. Lastly, the bottle I picked up at the ABC store here in Virginia was actually a full liter instead of the standard 750ml. I noticed it right away when I got home and it was next to another bottle of a different Mezcal. I can't really tell if yours is as well. Maybe they ship different sizes to different markets?

[@twhdvm]

I really like Banhez. And at that price it’s a no-brainer. I love sipping it but it also works great in cocktails and the smokiness is definitely present.

[@TheSupremeStriker]

I had gotten a montelobos pechuga from total wine as a splurge last year (bottle was like 120). Still have like a third of it left, I break out a shot for sipping on special occasions

[@lusario2650]

Best mezcal I've ever tried!

[@TherealBartcephus]

I absolutely love Codigo 1530 tequila in all flavors, I reckon I need to give the mezcal a shot too!

[@dfnope]

I love Banhez, it's in the well of one of my local haunts, and I was shocked how good it is. Could we get a review of Bozal perhaps?

[@daneflanigan]

New to the channel and loving the reviews!!!

[@ositofreitas]

They also usually have Burrito Fiestero Cenizo and sometimes verde from Durango. An excellent intro for novices as very sweet, complex and long finish. The Ono is solid. Middle of the road but well made Sotol. Very cheap in Mexico.

[@jacobmoux5235]

I'm interested on your thoughts of the brand Las Tonas. I think it's one of those Total wine spirits direct bottles, but for me they're very light in smoke and have great flavor

[@CommunionCups]

I'm super surprised this was your first Bahnez. I'm a big fan of theirs. Just purchased a Mango Liquor (distilled from Mangos. No added sugar so not a liqueur). It's very interesting.

[@Lui_Fern]

I heard from a friend that their Mango liquor is outstanding! And yeah for whatever reason I hadn't tried it yet.

[@delgadogarces]

Thanks for the review of Banhez. As I am now on a fixed income , showing good value mezcal and tequila really helps!

[@Lui_Fern]

You're welcome friend!

[@christinecamley]

Looks fabulous Lui!!!

[@devinphillips9704]

What do you think of Sombra? I like both the joven and the reposado, and I hear it's about as serviceable as Del Maguey as a cocktail mezcal. In fact it gets used quite a bit in the Death & Co. Modern Classic Cocktails book, as far as their recipes go.

[@fretless05]

I've really been enjoying Mi Mama Me Dijo, but if I see this in my local shop, I might give it a try. I'm also really curious about the Codigo, as I enjoy their tequilas, particularly their Still Strength expression.

[@trihardmccree2074]

Try that La Luna mezcal

[@alanwong1164]

Sorry if this has been asked a lot before, but are additives a thing in the mezcal world? Just curious since I’m 100% in the additive free tequila world!

[@Lui_Fern]

I'm sure they are a thing but the incentives to use additives are less in Mezcal than in tequila. Tequila is one of the best selling spirits on the planet so a lot of producers will cut corners to make more money. So do I think it's a thing in mezcal? 100% but it's not as scrutinized as in tequila because there isn't a robust reviewing platform like Tequila Matchmaker for mezcal quite yet.

[@alanwong1164]

Thank you for the reply man! Keep doing what you’re doing! Love your channel 🙌

[@jackjd8106]

That's a good budget option for a every day sipper.

[@andrewb8810]

Nice! enjoyed it.

[@Lui_Fern]

Happy you enjoyed it friend

[@morrismazda9010]

😂So, Lui- thanks for the Banhez review. How about Lunazul ❓ I get it for $21 @ liter. It's 100% blue weber agave & a great thing to mix with Banhez in a margarita 🍹 😋

[@rafaelanguiano4853]

Hey have you tried Madre Mezcal and can you tell me if it’s any good?

[@rawcircoking]

Whats a good smokey mezcal for the tequila old fashion? I bought the classic Vida and it isn't smokey like the restaurants. Maybe my respo is putting off the taste?

[@Petunia500]

Seems like I’m addicted to your videos and your knowledge on tequilas😂❤❤ and your hair looks amazing what’s the secret behind the shine

[@conorvaughan3510]

Have you tried the lost explorer line of mezcals? Not sure if it’s just good marketing or a good product

[@TMats100]

Lui, I’ve been a tequila aficionado for many years, and I’ve watched enough of your videos to know that our taste in tequila is pretty well aligned. I drink blancos almost exclusively. I recently watched a video of yours in which you proclaimed that [paraphrasing] “In many ways I like mezcal better than tequila.” I’ve made a couple forays into mezcal and have, thus far, been disappointed. Tequilas I know, and if a store is even decently stocked, I can find something I know is good. Mezcal is expensive too, and I don’t want to keep gambling on it. Can you help steer me in the right direction?

[@psilo110]

I was surprised how good Banhez was for the price. Los Magos on the other hand was probably the worst Sotol I ever had. Por Siempre is a great Sotol for the price, Hacienda de Chihuahua Rustico is not bad either.

[@Lui_Fern]

I'm a huge fan of por siempre. I find the Los Magos sotol to be not a subtle flavor but works well in cocktails

[@psilo110]

Magos is probably fine as a mixer. Senor Sotol is also a pretty good budget Sotol, you have to embrace that Durango funk

[@Watchman999]

Thanks for all your great advice. I just indulged in a Don Mateo Pechuga mezcal this past weekend. I also particularly like the fact that they hung turkey, venison and.........IGUANA in the still. HA!!!!!!!!!!! Do you pick up black olive in general on mezcal? Why does tequila mezcal taste so much different than non-tequila mezcal? I seriously don't understand that. I am traditionally a scotch/bourbon drinker but sipping on a nicely put together mezcal is quite a good time too.

[@chrisdimal9869]

How was that Pechuga? Would love to hear what you felt. I've read mixed reviews for it.

[@Watchman999]

@@chrisdimal9869 it was great from start to finish. The ABV of 45% is a win and it is a pleasant and complex nose and palate. So different from tequila

[@chrisdimal9869]

@@Watchman999 Thanks for responding! In more specific terms how was it? Was it smoky? Fruity? Meaty? Or was it not in any particular direction?

[@Watchman999]

@@chrisdimal9869 ha. Sorry. I got sweet notes on the nose and I often tend to get olives on the nose. Palate was clean and predominantly smoky. Meaty not so much but some ongoing sweetness but no t a specific fruit that I could name. I’m pretty new to Mezcal.

[@kirdot2011]

Wont be shoping for absynth anytime soon, eh? I heard its banned in US isnt it?

[@miksologia]

Ok... this gave me thoughts... The only mezcal I have is the Del Magey Vida. I find it too smoky and don't like it in cocktails. I always thought that it was a "less" smoky but now you say it's not. This gives me the thought of giving another mezcal a chance before giving up on mezcal all together. The only thing is the crap-bad selection of mezcals in Europe...

[@nickkatherina]

Is Ilegal a no go? I use it currently and I find it pretty good. I get it is owned by Bacardi now, but the NOM shows that the distillery only produces Ilegal and just one more type of Mezcal. Seems controlled to me.

[@rackemwells]

I LOVE their reposado. 👍🏻

[@albertoalvarez6977]

how is madre mezcal?

[@mylungpuppy]

The best Mezcal I've had have no smoke, I would not drink Del Maguy Vide, it was the first bottle I ever bought but now I would pass...I look small batch, small production, with around 46% APV or higher. My favorites are from 5 Sentidos, but they are not cheap (it's really not worth drinking the cheap stuff). PS I just got back from Oaxaca and brought back two bottles.