Review by: Raygun

Maguey Melate is better known for its agave spirits, but they also release eau de vie from Mexico. I’ve been curious about mango eau de vie since I first heard of it. I love mango anything, so it seemed like it would be my sort of thing. Never took the plunge on a bottle. Now I don’t have to, thanks to a generous friend who shared a sample of this. This is made from criollo mangos, distilled by Edgar Gonzalez Ramirez. Rested about 15 minutes.

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Distiller: Edgar Gonzalez Ramirez

Bottler: Maguey Melate 

Region/style: Mexican eau de vie 

ABV: 50.3%

Age: N/A

Color: 0.0 clear

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Nose: Doesn’t smell overwhelmingly of mango. I’m slightly disappointed. Mango, something like pine, and some green papaya.          

Palate: Mango, green papaya, and a flavor of cake. Not sweet, but the mango intensity I wanted on the nose is here in spades. It’s kind of messing with my head, this intense mango flavor except dry. There’s a hint of something like glue.    

Finish: Yes, it’s more mango and slightly green papaya. Tilts toward mango pudding or ice cream. There’s some passion fruit and a custard aspect. 

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Conclusion: I wasn’t fully persuaded by the nose, but the palate delivered all the mango one could want. Kind of fascinating to have this intense mango flavor without the sweetness that the fruit has. Not for the mango-shy, that’s for sure. For me, this was a trip.

Score: 83

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Scoring Legend:

• 95-100: As good as it gets. Jaw-dropping, eye-widening, unforgettable.
• 90-94: Sublime, a personal favorite in its category.
• 85-89: Excellent, a standout dram.
• 80-84: Quite good. Quality stuff.
• 75-79: Decent brandy worth tasting.
• 70-74: Meh. It’s definitely drinkable, but it can do better.
• 60-69: Not so good. I might not turn down a glass if I needed a drink.
• 50-59: Save it for mixing.
• 0-49: Blech.