More Mezcal: Legendario Domingo Guerrero, Derrumbes Tamaulipas

Mezcal is hot right now, and that's great, and the vast majority of the attention is on Oaxaca, which is also great. But as I've talked about many, many times before, Oaxaca isn't the only state in Mexico making mezcal (let alone agave spirits more broadly), and those other regions are often well worth your attention. Today we're hitting Guerrero in the far south (between Oaxaca and Michoacán) and Tamaulipas in the far northeast, and we're keeping the budget reasonable (like, $50-60) to boot. Stats: Legendario Domingo Guerrero Mezcal Artesanal (100% Papalote/Cupreata, distilled by the Obregón family; lot 5R05X-04, 888 bottles, circa 2020?; 47% ABV), 86-/100 Derrumbes Tamaulipas Mezcal Artesanal (El Gavilán, San Carlos; A. Amole and Americana, distilled by Mezcalero Cuauhtémoc Jaquez; Lot 5, distilled 1/2019, 1300 bottles; 48% ABV), 87/100 The only other Guerrero mezcal I've ever tried was an espadin from Hector Obregon (see    • Death By Espadin, II: Caballito Cerrero, B...   ), which I was rather fond of. This one, from a bottler I know basically nothing about, appeals because it's Papalote - which can mean a couple of things, but in this case it's the gloriously lemony-lactic Cupreata. This particular Cupreata maintains that character while also bringing in a mint chocolate thing more reminiscent of, well, espadin. I like it and I think it'd hit a lot of palates (but it doesn't like water much). And then it's on to a Derrumbes, a bottler which I rather like (see    • Double Derrumbes: Zacatecas Versus Michoac...   and    • Mezcals That Aren't DM Vida: Mal Bien Espa...   ) even if they've just been bought up by Gallo. It's extraordinarily hard to find mezcal from Tamaulipas, but if this one is indicative then I shall need to find more pronto. This stuff straight up presents like food: cover your chile rellenos in sweet and sour sauce and kirschwasser and you might be close. Vida fans will want to stay well away, but if you're adventurous and if you look around a bit it's a heck of a good value and just, well, different. Extra special thanks to my Different Spirits on Patreon (  / differentspirits  ) - Eric Amig Anthony Kingsbury bushcraft Clematis Rob D Liam Davitt Joe Devine Samuel Dose Stephen Eckert eon Ingmar nine Steve Frazee Ian Gendler John Halliday Alex Hurd Trevor Jarrait Jonathan Lestingi Kyaru Jason Newquist No Thanks Chris Rhodes Randy Rice RumSquirrel Chris Sherman Gordon W Zach W