Maguey Melate Sacatoro 48% – Israel Petronilo Apolinar

June 2021 Mezcalero of the Month

Shipping alongside the Ramos Tequilana is this gem from Israel.

This sub box threw me two curve balls as I’ve never had a Sacatoro before. I believe this is from another mezcalero that will be bottled under the Rayo Seco brand and the two companies have now collaborated on two bottlings (the first a Chacaleño from Carlos Ángulo Rios).

---

Tasting Notes

Right from the first pour you get a bloom of woof fire and ash. It’s a deep earth and charcoal note. Long field grasses. Some root vegetables. As it sits in the glass the fire mellows into a low charcoal fire. It just reminds me of a crisp autumn night on the nose.

The initial sip takes you by surprise. It’s a salty sweetness you don’t expect from the nose. It’s not a BBQ but this lemon and olives tang. Smoked paprika. A savory dry rub. If you’ve had Trader Joe’s Chili Lime rub, this scent fills your nose as you sip.

The salinity savory notes come right through on the finish. It’s a rich salted cured meat flavor. A bit of citrus oil lingers as well. It’s like grilled lemons.

---

Overall

There is a lot to unpack here in this bottle. It’s complex and interesting to explore. To me this tastes like a pickled turmeric lemon that’s a common Indian condiment/side. You get that briny saltiness but also the sweet and sour notes of the lemon. It’s tangy and smoky and simply delicious.

---