Sunday (March 31) was a good day for Metro Boomin. His and Future’s collaborative album We Don’t Trust Youdebuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 — Metro’s fourth-career No. 1 album and Future’s ninth, according to Billboard. The album earned 2024’s largest week by any album, with 251,000 equivalent US album units, as per Luminate.
Hours later, ESPN’s Omar Raja recorded LeBron James rapping Kendrick Lamar’s verse on “Like That” during the Los Angeles Lakers’ warmups ahead of their game at the Brooklyn Nets. James, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, proceeded to do what he does in the Lakers’ 116-104 win. The 39-year-old logged 40 points on 13-of-17 from the field with nine three-pointers. Per ESPN, James tied his career high for threes in a game and joined Michael Jordan “as the only players in NBA history with multiple games of 40 points or more after turning 39.”
Metro Boomin was delighted, posting on X (formerly Twitter), “bro was warming up to Like That then went 9/10 from 3 and 13/17 for 40 points [exploding head emoji, three steam-from-nose emojis, flexing emoji] #WEDONTTRUSTYOU.”
By the time James was spotted spitting “Like That,” he and the Lakers had already run onto the court to “Ya Ya” from Beyoncé’s newly released Cowboy Carter, as seen in a video posted by Jasmine (@hausofJazzy) on X.
LEBRON JAMES AND THE LAKERS CAME OUT TO “YA YA” BY BEYONCÉ FROM #COWBOYCARTER
Cowboy Carter debuting at anything lower than No. 1 next week would be a bigger upset than James’ Lakers winning the West, and then it can almost already be penciled in that Metro and Future’s We Don’t Trust You sequel album will recapture No. 1 after its April 12 release date.
Jackass legend Steve-O was all set to guest on Bill Maher‘s Club Random podcast, until the host refused to stop smoking weed.
During a recent episode of Wild Ride! with Steve-O, host Steve-O told his guest, political commentator Patrick Bet-David, that he watched him on Club Random and found the way that Maher spoke to him to be “rather insulting.” The conversation then turned to marijuana, which Maher frequently smokes because he thinks it makes him look like the coolest guy in the world. It’s also the reason Steve-O didn’t appear on his show.
“I’m a clean and sober guy,” Steve-O said. “It’s very important that I maintain my sobriety.” He’s been sober for nearly 16 years (the before-and-after pic is striking) and “there’s nothing that I value more than my sobriety,” so he found it “upsetting” that when he agreed to appear on Club Random as a guest but only if Maher didn’t smoke, the host declined. “I said I’d happily go on there, but while I’m on, out of respect for my sobriety, could you refrain from smoking pot? And he said, no. That’s a deal-breaker,” Steve-O explained.
You can watch Wild Ride! with Steve-O above (the Maher talk begins around 41 minutes into the video).
In a video that made the rounds online over the weekend, Yachty says, “I personally think that rap n****s are so angry and so mad and so ‘grr’ all the time because they ugly… as f*ck. A lot of rappers don’t like what they see when they wake up, and they realize they probably only get women because they have money. Me, on the other hand, am gorgeous. And it’s like, I’m happy, you know? Life’s great. I got some money, decent looking, I smell great.”
Yachty, of course, has a strong sense of humor, so he’s likely joking around, at least a little bit, here.
Appearance aside, Yachty certainly has a lot to be happy about at the moment. A few days ago, it was announced that he teamed with Quality Control and HYBE to start his own record label, Concrete Rekordz.
As Donald Trump continues to drown in multi-million dollar judgments and legal fees, the former president has become increasingly aggressive in finding new ways to fleece the MAGA faithful. Trump has been selling everything from Bibles to mini speakers that look like him.
“I assume it’s way too loud and never dies,” John Oliver quipped during the latest episode of Last Week Tonight. “You know how you can never tell which Airpods are yours and which are your friends, because all the cases look the same? Well, if you get these, you lose all your friends instantly — problem solved.”
The late night comedian did not hold back as he walked through the most recent examples of Trump using his legal troubles to whip up donations.
Oliver then showed a video, which appeared to have low production value, of Trump saying to his supporters: “We’re fighting. We’re winning. You see what’s going on. So whatever you can do to help financially would be fantastic, because we have to beat it if it’s $5 or $10 or $100, whatever you can do.”
Replied Oliver: “That is a man who talks nonstop about how he’s one of the richest men on Earth, begging strangers for money in a hostage video that looks like it was filmed in a house haunted by the world’s tackiest ghosts.”
However, what Oliver found most baffling is that Trump may have found a way out of his money problems thanks to Truth Social receiving an $8 billion valuation that the late night host says is “utterly divorced from the underlying business, which is a mess.”
“Its stock is trading incredibly high because Trump supporters believe buying it is a way to simultaneously own the libs, give Trump money and, they’d argue, make a profit themselves,” Oliver explained before comparing the Truth Social situation to a more popular meme stock. “The GameStop movement was at least nominally about wresting financial power away from sh*tty rich a**holes and restoring it to the little guy, whereas this movement is about funneling the little guy’s money directly to the sh*ttiest rich a**hole there is.”
Even with the arrival or spring, the lure of the television remains strong. Not only will Amazon finish an Invincible season, but the streamer will start churning towards The Boys‘ return. This month, however, a different crop of show are preparing to thrill and chill viewers from several angles.
Gamers will receive starring turns from both Walton Goggins and Idris Elba. True crime addicts will see more of the Robert Durst downfall and a series that will also appeal to fans of the most recent True Detective season. Then there are grifters and spies, a new sci-fi adventure, and an interlude from Neil Gaiman’s The Sandman universe. Here are the must-see shows for April.
Ripley (Netflix series streaming 4/4)
Everyone remembers Matt Damon in The Talented Mr. Ripley, and Andrew Scott is fully shaking off his “Hot Priest” days to don Tom Ripley’s grifter duds. This limited series is, of course, based upon Patricia Highsmith’s series of novels, and Scott’s incarnation of the character takes a job in the 1960s that sets him on the deceit-filled path to murder.
Parasyte: The Grey: Season 1 (Netflix series streaming 4/5)
Netflix has cranked up their South Korean production following the Squid Game phenomenon, and this live-action manga adaptation — which differs starkly from its source material although it appears to remain loyal to the same universe — pulls out the sci-fi stops as well. The series follows mysterious parasites who begin falling from the sky to inhabit hosts and start rampantly committing murder, yet the potentially greater threat to humanity is whether they can come together to react.
Sugar: Season 1 (Apple TV+ series streaming 4/5)
Colin Farrell is gearing up to appear in Max’s Penguin series, but for the moment, he’s starring as private detective John Sugar, who must track the disappearance of a powerful Hollywood producer’s granddaughter. In the process, Sugar also digs up family secrets that were buried for major reasons.
Fallout: Season 1 (Amazon Prime Video series streaming 4/11)
Walton Goggins portrays The Ghoul in this series that he was very excited to join until he learned about the no-nose thing. Still, he persisted in this live-action adaptation of the wildly successful video game series that takes place two centuries following the apocalypse, in which coming home doesn’t exactly happen as expected for the wealthy who have been hanging out in their shelters. The entire season will drop at once, for the binging.
Franklin: Season 1 (Apple TV+ series streaming 4/12)
Apple TV+ continues hitting the history books hard (after Masters of the Air and Manhunt), and here, Michael Douglas puts on the duds to portray Ben Franklin. In this series, however, the focus isn’t upon Franklin’s legacy as the father of electricity but in his journey to France on a secret mission. The show adapts A Great Improvisation: Franklin, France, and the Birth of America, the Pulitzer Prize winning book from Stacy Schiff.
Under the Bridge: Season 1 (FX on Hulu series streaming 4/17)
Lily Gladstone is following up her arresting Killers of the Flower Moon performance in this true-crime series adaptation of the late Rebecca Godfrey’s same-named book that dives tail first into 14-year-old Reena Virk’s murder after it flipped a Canadian town on its head. The story carries some Sharp Objects flavor with True Detective vibes alongside its real-life origins. Riley Keough portrays Godfrey, and Gladstone suits up as a cop as the two women take different approaches to the pursuit of justice.
Conan O’Brien Must Go: Season 1 (Max series streaming 4/18)
If you adore Conan O’Brien — and who doesn’t? — and especially if you enjoy his Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend podcast, you’ll want to fall in-like all over again as Conan visit those friends. What follows will be a globetrotting extravaganza, surely of the self-deprecating variety.
The Jinx — Part Two (HBO series streaming on Max 4/21)
Robert Durst didn’t know what hit him, but it was always (surprise) Robert Durst hitting himself. He hot-mic’d his way into a followup investigation following 2015’s first season finale, in which he confessed (to himself but inadvertently to the world), “What the hell did I do? Killed them all, of course.” At that point, a long wait for a followup season began, and Durst ended in behind bars after an extended run of dodging prosecution for repeated murder allegations due to insufficient evidence. Finally HBO the Max will take us behind the scenes as director Andrew Jarecki continued digging into the most bizarre of cases with interviews from witnesses who didn’t come forward until after that Durst slip-up.
Dead Boy Detectives (Netflix series streaming 4/25)
Welcome to another side of Neil Gaiman’s The Sandman Universe, in which two young detectives discover each other while dead after being born decades apart. They’re BFF ghosts who also happen to have a knock for solving mysteries, particularly when something paranormal is afoot. That’s precisely what they encounter, including witches and the depths of Hell while aiming to help the mortal realm find closure through their investigations.
Knuckles: Season 1 (Paramount+ series streaming 4/26)
In the midst of runaway successful Sonic The Hedgehog movies, Jim Carrey and James Marsden’s voices are taking a break and yielding to Idris Elba, who stars here in the live-action series where his character fashions Adam Palley’s Wade into his protégé because someone needs to continue in the fine tradition of being an Echidna warrior. The film fills some gaps before the third Sonic movie, and the biggest attraction is (of course) the voice of Elba as an incorrigible grump.
The Veil: Season 1 (FX on Hulu series streaming 4/30)
Because there’s no such thing as too many spy series, Elisabeth Moss stars in this thriller series that brings two women together in an intricate game while they leap across Europe to save thousands of innocents from perishing. Secrets, lies, and ass-kicking moves swirl with international agencies coming together, possibly begrudgingly, to ward off mayhem.
J.K. Rowling could be arrested in Scotland for deliberately misgendering transgender people under a new hate crime law, a politician warns.
On April 1, the day Scotland implemented a new law to tackle hate crime, the Harry Potter author tweeted, “In passing the Scottish Hate Crime Act, Scottish lawmakers seem to have placed higher value on the feelings of men performing their idea of femaleness, however misogynistically or opportunistically, than on the rights and freedoms of actual women and girls.” She added, “I’m currently out of the country, but if what I’ve written here qualifies as an offence under the terms of the new act, I look forward to being arrested when I return to the birthplace of the Scottish Enlightenment.”
In response to her latest comments (which is part of an exhausting 11 tweet thread), Scottish National Party’s community safety minister Siobhian Brown warned the Telegraph that Rowling could be in legal trouble. Her “completely deranged” posts where she misgenders trans women “could be reported and it could be investigated,” Brown said. “Whether or not the police would think it was criminal is up to Police Scotland for that.”
The law creates a criminal offense of “stirring up of hatred”, expanding on a similar offence based on racist abuse that has been on the statute book for decades. The new legislation covers hatred on the basis of age, disability, race, religion, sexual orientation and transgender identity. Someone convicted of stirring up hate could face a fine and a prison term of up to seven years.
It will be tough to make a case against Rowling, however.
As the Telegraph notes, women were omitted from “the list of protected groups included in the legislation,” which means that “threats made against Rowling and other feminists critical of trans ideology could not be investigated under the Bill.” Rowling is daring the authorities to “#ArrestMe” because she knows it likely won’t happen.
Casey Benjamin, a renowned multi-instrumentalist who was a member of Robert Glasper Experiment, reportedly died on March 31 at 45 years old. Neither an official statement from Benjamin’s team nor a news report has been shared yet as of this post, but some of Benjamin’s collaborators have posted their sympathies.
Lupe Fiasco wrote on Instagram, “Rest In Peace Casey Benjamin. I can’t even begin to express the deep gratitude and respect. My deepest condolences to the family, fans and friends. ”
Benjamin’s Robert Glasper Experiment bandmate Derrick Hodge also wrote, “Tonight, I honor a brother. A true brother and friend. Casey Benjamin, thank you for inspiring me, for being a light in my life, and for your unbelievable influence on the music world. I will carry your smile with me, brother. And we will collectively honor and carry your legacy with us. Can’t get my words together at this moment but will echo a few of my last words to you: I’m thankful for you and love you always! Rest well, King.”
Aside from Glasper, Benjamin found himself collaborating with a number of legendary figures over the years; As he noted in a 2017 interview, he has worked with Beyoncé, Kendrick Lamar, Lady Gaga, Q-Tip, John Legend, Anderson .Paak, Nas, Common, and Arcade Fire. In his career, he won two Grammy Awards: Best Traditional R&B Performance for “Jesus Children” in 2015 and Best R&B Album for Black Radio in 2013, both as part of Robert Glasper Experiment.
A few days ago, Billie Eilish made comments about how some artists engage in the “wasteful” practice of releasing multiple vinyl variants of their albums. Some thought Eilish’s criticism was directed towards Taylor Swift, but now Eilish is setting the record straight.
Last night (March 31), Eilish wrote in an Instagram Story post, “okay so it would be so awesome if people would stop putting words into my mouth and actually read what i said in that billboard article. i wasn’t singling anyone out, these are industry-wide systemic issues. & when it comes to variants, so many artists release them – including ME! which i clearly state in the article. the climate crisis is now and its about all of us being part of the problem and trying to do better sheesh.”
@billieeilish/Instagram
As for what Eilish actually said in the Billboard interview (alongside her mother Maggie Baird) published on March 28, here’s the excerpt:
Eilish: “We live in this day and age where, for some reason, it’s very important to some artists to make all sorts of different vinyl and packaging … which ups the sales and ups the numbers and gets them more money and gets them more…”
Baird: “Well, it counts toward No. 1 albums.”
Eilish: “I can’t even express to you how wasteful it is. It is right in front of our faces and people are just getting away with it left and right, and I find it really frustrating as somebody who really goes out of my way to be sustainable and do the best that I can and try to involve everybody in my team in being sustainable — and then it’s some of the biggest artists in the world making f*cking 40 different vinyl packages that have a different unique thing just to get you to keep buying more. It’s so wasteful, and it’s irritating to me that we’re still at a point where you care that much about your numbers and you care that much about making money — and it’s all your favorite artists doing that sh*t.”
Every single week, our TV and film experts will list the most important ten streaming selections for you to pop into your queues. We’re not strictly operating upon reviews or accrued streaming clicks (although yes, we’ve scoured the streaming site charts) but, instead, upon those selections that are really worth noticing amid the churning sea of content. There’s a lot out there, after all, and your time is valuable.
Following Masters Of The Air, Apple TV+ is opening the history books again to follow the frantic search for Abraham Lincoln’s assassin, John Wilkes Booth. Coincidentally or not, Anthony Boyle stars in both series, and he makes an unhinged turn here as the subject of the titular law enforcement search. Hamish Linklater portrays the doomed president, and the limited series also co-stars Tobias Menzies and Patton Oswalt with muttonchops and a full-on beard. How can you resist that? Not possible.
TIE: 10. The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live (AMC show streaming on AMC+)
You know, Rick might still be stuck on those “Tasteful Noods” that he found while he and Michonne were making their way home. And once the season finale credits roll, the inquiries will return in earnest regarding exactly whether a crossover will happen between the currently running spin offs — including Dead City and Daryl Dixon: Now With Added Carol — and when second seasons will begin to arrive. In the meantime, there are also wedding bells coming, as absurd as that might sound in a post-apocalyptic realm. Does that absurdity distract from the enjoyment of this series? Nope.
9. A Gentleman In Moscow (Showtime series streaming on Paramount+)
Ewan McGregor leads an ensemble cast (including his wife, Mary Elizabeth Winstead) while starring as a Russian aristocrat, Count Alexander Rostov, in this adaptation of Amor Towles’ same-named novel. Rostov finds himself sequestered in a hotel in the aftermath of the Russian Revolution, which has deemed him an outlaw. However, he is not immediately executed but, instead, imprisoned within the attic of a luxurious hotel. It’s quite a conundrum, really.
The Disney+ Marvel shows are in a bit of a pickle these days, but X-Men ’97 might be saving the day. A reported 4 million viewers streamed the first episode of this series within the five days of launch, so clearly, people are still into mutants who save the world from total catastrophe. In this series, the gang will be facing an unexpected future that presents heretofore unseen challenges, and the nerds are into it.
Many series surface now and again and claim to be epic, but FX did the thing with world building while adapting James Clavell’s most famed novel with updated Blackthorne hotness. This isn’t the easiest watch because there are so many intricate alliances and hints of betrayal amongst an enormous cast of characters. However, the show’s writers placed great care into nonverbal cues and seemingly effortless exposition, so that that viewers do not need to do any homework to appreciate this sprawling story.
Here’s the drill when it comes to Guy Ritchie: expect a stylish and fun crime caper. However, it might seem slightly confusing that Ritchie has a hell of a lot of titles that refer to “gentlemen.” There’s a new movie coming with Henry Cavill and Alan Ritchson called The Ministry Of Ungentlemanly Warfare, but that has nothing to do with this series, which also isn’t a remake of The Gentlemen, the 2019 movie starring Matthew McConaughey as a weed kingpin. However, Theo James does star in this series as the heir of a weed-kingpin empire, so you’re still in familiar territory.
5. Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey (Altitude Distribution film streaming on Peacock)
After arguably the most famous fictional bear hit the public domain, this was bound to happen. With the sequel in theaters, the original film is now being streamed in living rooms to prep for the apparent improvement awaiting in theaters as we speak. Is this quality cinema? No way, but sometimes, ridiculousness is a much needed antidote with everything going on in the real world these days.
This deeply unsettling series, which exposes the seedy underbelly of the Nickelodeon acting experience, will soon see a bonus episode to uncover more details surrounding “allegations of abuse, sexism and racism” (in shows tied to producer Dan Schneider) in an episode called “Breaking The Silence.” Within this episode, several former child stars including Drake Bell will unveil their accounts alongside host Soledad O’Brien.
Jake Gyllenhaal stars in a pretty fine action movie here, although it doesn’t quite feel like a Road House movie? Yep, the Patrick Swayze flick will always be the preferable incarnation, although Gyllenhaal keeps the punches flying well enough to entertain throughout this retooling. Naturally, this update does not shy away from violence, but does play it safer than the original movie elsewhere. And therein lies the difficulty in translating a 1980s story for a 2024 audience while still presenting as a guilty pleasure.
The Game of Thrones creators, David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, have a multi-season plan for their new sci-fi series, and from the looks of things so far, they probably have a good shot at renewal. However, you never know what Netflix will decide, but for the moment, viewer care enjoying this series that details humanity’s protracted response to an impending alien invasion. This is, of course, because humanity also couldn’t resist poking the space bear, and now, there shall be no easy solution The cast includes Eiza González, John Bradley, Marlo Kelly, and Bendict Wong, and the story spans time and space, literally.
Robert Kirkman’s second runaway comic-book-turned-tv-property is fully in the groove while careening towards the back end of the second season. There will be much more Omni-Man to come in other seasons, but currently, the show is focusing upon Mark attempting to figure out how to stop the Viltrumite Empire from taking over Earth. He must also wrestle with continuing as a college student and help support Debbie after the significant blow she was dealt by the revelation that Nolan only saw her as a “pet.” Once this batch of episodes concludes, Amazon will start gearing up for the fourth season of The Boys, and this streaming service obviously know what people want from their bad superheroes. In other words, it’s a fantastic time to be a lover of TV.
Mezcal is a broad category. Small stills dot places like Oaxaca, Mexico — where there can be massive variation in taste, texture, and quality from one still to the next (let alone one distillery to the next). And that’s before you get to the mezcal made in other states across Mexico.
The true quality of a great mezcal really comes down to who is making the juice (the mezcalero), the process they’re using, and the people putting the mezcal together for bottling. It’s a surprisingly intricate process for a ~seemingly~ straightforward spirit.
Among the many mezcal brands on the booming market, Mezcal Los Siete Misterios shines bright. The team behind Los Siete Misterios finds the absolute star mezcaleros for their expressions. They then build mezcals that highlight the work of Oaxaca’s prized distilleries and agave species. In short, Los Siete Misterios is all about the people and their work over quantity (not surprisingly, the brand shares a parent company with Michter).
As of press time, Los Siete Misterios produces 13 unique mezcals with six different agave varieties at the base of their spirits. To help you filter through all of those mezcals, we decided to rank every bottle on the shelf. This is a deep dive into each bottle’s vibe, profile, and best use. By the end of this list, you should feel confident in choosing the best Los Siete Misterios mezcal for your next cocktail or sipper.
Let’s dive in!
Also Read: The Top Five Cocktail Recipes of the Last Six Months
Doba-Yej is made from classic Agave Angustifolia — the most common agave used in mezcal production. That agave is slow-roasted in earthen ovens with river stones used as heat sources and local wood for the fire. The juice drawn from the roasted agave is open-fermented and then distilled twice through a copper pot still, which is also fired with local wood heat.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nose is a classic mezcal with a deep sense of ashy smoke, soft red summer florals, hints of citrus oils, and a twinge of creamy sour cream just kissed with black pepper notes.
Palate: A deep earthiness drives the palate with a sense of warm red soil, cinnamon bark, and dried ancho chili peppers before a touch of vanilla arrives with dryness.
Finish: The finish leans into the woody vanilla husks with a dry orange zest and a whisper of wet mint on the very end.
Bottom Line:
This is built as a cocktail base mezcal. Use it accordingly. Our advice is to swap out the tequila in your favorite paloma or margarita recipe with this for a layer of smoky and earthy spice in your next drink.
12. Mezcal Los Siete Misterios Mezcal Joven Espadín
This entry point mezcal uses classic angustifolia agave that’s slow-roasted underground with river stones and hardwood as a heat source. After open-fermentation, the juice is distilled via clay pot stills twice before proofing and bottling.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Blood orange oils and black pepper pop on the nose next to a thick layer of earthy smoke that’s heavy with red clay, rocky minerality, and a twist of black licorice.
Palate: That black licorice sweetens on the palate as dark orange oils mix with clove and cinnamon next to a layer of ashy red dirt, soft vanilla essence, and a touch of prickly pear flower.
Finish: The end is very light and minerally with a sense of campfire smoke and earthy dried mushrooms over orange oils and dried chili peppers with a whisper of twang from sour cream.
Bottom Line:
This is a great place to start a mezcal journey — every basic note is here and rendered very clearly. It’s also light. You won’t be overwhelmed by the smoke or earthiness, but it’s 100% there. Overall, try this as a neat sip and then layer it into your favorite tequila cocktails.
The “Ensamble” line of Los Siete Misterios is the “small batch” version of mezcal in that it brings together multiple agave-based mezcals into one batch. In this case, the Ensamble Especial batch is a blend of four to five agaves that were roasted in the earth and then twice-distilled in copper pot stills before batching and proofing.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nose opens with a dash of celery salt and green olive brine before hitting a deep lemon oil vibe next to soft fresh red chili, dry corn husks, and a touch of wet slate.
Palate: The palate leans into the lemon before sweetening with a nice layer of grapefruit peel, more red chili, and soft flour tortillas next to a faint flourish of baba ganoush.
Finish: That wet slate makes a comeback on the finish as the chilis dry and the citrus rinds take on a slight candied sweetness with a touch more of that celery salt and creamy spice eggplant routing things out at the very end.
Bottom Line:
This is the most “acquired taste” mezcal on the list — the celery and eggplant are kind of out there. That said, this all makes sense as a savory and citrus-forward sipper that’ll expand your palate. Otherwise, reach for this when you’re looking for something completely different.
10. Mezcal Los Siete Misterios Ensamble Espadín/Cuishe
This “Ensamble” expression from Los Siete Misterios blends classic Angustifolia Haw agave with rarer Agave Karwinskii (a tall version grown in Oaxaca). Those two agaves are slow-roasted underground before double-distilling in copper pot stills.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: There’s a distinct pickle brine note on the nose that’s dill, coriander, and garlic heavy next to rich grapefruit oils, a touch of vanilla pod, and a sweet sense of floral honey.
Palate: The grapefruit opens the palate toward more pickle brine that verges on olive brine before smoky black pepper arrives with soft chewing tobacco and a deep sense of wet red clay.
Finish: The pickling herbs kick up at the end with more tobacco, red clay, and honey sweetness before a note of nasturtium flowers brings a bright and fresh warmth.
Bottom Line:
This is smoky and funky in all the right ways. Again, this is a very “acquired taste” pour of mezcal — if you don’t dig on pickles, you’re not going to dig this. That all said, this is a fascinating sipper that rewards you for taking your time and sipping it slowly.
9. Mezcal Los Siete Misterios Ensamble Espadín/Mexicanito
This small batch version uses Mexicanito (Rhodacantha) agave, which is similar to classic Espadín (Angustifolia) but is much rarer. It grows in the foothills of Mexico amongst the dry pine forests, giving it a completely different vibe and flavor profile. Both agave spirits are classically roasted in the earth before being twice-distilled in copper pot stills.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nose is fruity AF with a sense of smoked banana bread, smoked walnuts, smoked butter, and smoked mango spears with a flake of salt and a touch of pine resin dank.
Palate: Salted papaya and grilled pineapple open the taste toward dried sweetgrass and smoldering smudging sage next to sticky notes of cannabis, a touch of pipe tobacco, and smoldering pine sap.
Finish: The end leans into dry chilis, a crack of black pepper, a twist of sweetgrass, and a dollop of cottage cheese filled with whispers of smoked and dried tropical fruits.
Bottom Line:
There’s a nice sense of bright fruits kissed with smoke and funky creaminess that makes great mezcal so freaking good. Pour this one neat and take your time digging into the flavor profile. Then use this in a citrus-forward cocktail for maximum effect.
8. Mezcal Los Siete Misterios Ensamble Espadín/Tepeztate
This small batch mezcal uses the extremely rare (and hard to find) Tepeztate agave (Marmorata) with classic Angustifolia. Tepeztate only grows on rocky mountainsides in rock, making it a pain in the ass to get to. Once harvested, the agaves go through the typical earthen roasting and copper pot distilling.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nose opens with bushels of fresh green roasting herbs next to dank lemon oils and orange zest before hints of bruised peach and creamy tangy cottage cheese arrive with a sharp nasturtium bloom.
Palate: The palate is lush with a sense of those fresh nasturtiums next to freshly cracked black pepper, soft apricot jam, a touch of marmalade, and a hint of mint chocolate chip ice cream.
Finish: The end has a touch of incense and dried rose before leaning into more black pepper, fresh spearmint, and green grass with a whisper of campfire smoke lurking in the very back of the sip.
Bottom Line:
This is an elevated pour of mezcal — those floral notes really take this to a new place. Overall, this is best poured over some ice and enjoyed as a slow sipper on a hot day.
7. Mezcal Los Siete Misterios Mezcal Joven Mexicano
This mezcal is made with Mexicanito (Rhodacantha) agaves from the foothills and pine forests of Mexico. The agave is slow-roasted before open fermentation. Then the juice is slowly distilled using clay pot stills in very small quantities — only 2,500 bottles of this have ever been produced for Los Siete Misterios.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Dank pine — almost cannabis — drives the nose toward dried mango spears tossed in olive oil, chili pepper flakes, and sea salt before a twang of thick sour cream and white pepper arrives with a light red clay earthiness.
Palate: The nose is full of powdery brown spice that leans toward white pepper before hitting a five-spice vibe with a touch of lemon and black licorice over green banana leaves smoldering over a hardwood fire.
Finish: Those green banana leaves get super smoky on the finish as lemongrass and orange oils kick up a citrus-forward spice cake vibe next to nuttiness, vanilla, pine resin, and soft brown spice powders — all of which are smoldering and warm.
Bottom Line:
This is dank and full of spice. It’s delightful but very bold. Pour this over a big rock and take your time with it — it’ll reward your patience.
6. Mezcal Los Siete Misterios Ensamble Espadín/Tobalá
Tobalá (Potatorum) is the most sought-after of all the agaves for making mezcal. It provides the richest flavor. In this case, Tobalá mezcal was batched with classic Espadín mezcal for an “Ensamble” expression.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Fresh and bright guava opens the nose toward lemon oils, grape juice, and soft cucumber with a hint of celery salt and smoked cream cheese.
Palate: The lemon really kicks up on the taste with a lemongrass vibe next to more fresh cucumber tossed with olive oil and fresh mint and dashed with smoked salt and a whisper of fresh chamomile flowers.
Finish: That chamomile creates a soft and lush finish touched with lemongrass oils, soft mint, and smoked guava next to a whisper of smoked red chili pepper flakes.
Bottom Line:
This is a very subtle and nicely balanced mezcal that’s great for summer sipping, especially over a few rocks.
This mezcal starts out as a classic Espadín base. After two distillations in copper pot stills, the mezcal is distilled a third time with raw turkey breasts, fruits, and spices, infusing the “Pechuga” flavors into the mezcal.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Smokes apple chips, smoky prunes, and handfuls of fresh green roasting herbs pop on the nose next to caramelized agave and soft purple flowers with a distant whisper of roasted fatty turkey lurking in the deep background.
Palate: The smoked fruits continue on the palate as dried lavender and nasturtium add a floral and spiced note with deeply roasted agave with soft salted caramel and a hint of winter baking spices add depth to the taste.
Finish: The end leans into cinnamon-spiced tobacco, a touch of turkey-fat-soaked roasting herbs, and soft vanilla with a hint of creamy sour cream cut with white pepper rounding things out.
Bottom Line:
This is funky in all the right ways, making it a great palate expander. There’s just so much going on and it all makes sense. Our advice is to take it slow, add water or ice, and slowly sip this one to get all the depth layered into this pour.
This version of mezcal is made with Karwinskii agave, which looks like a “barrel” when prepared for roasting. The agave is slow-roasted underground before fermentation and clay pot distillation.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nose is full of fresh potpourri — lemongrass, dried rose, lavender, violet, and orange pop the brightest — as soft orange zest and wild and almost woody huckleberry arrives late on the aroma.
Palate: That lemongrass really pops on the palate as soft red clay and smoldering smudging sage lead to huckleberries dipped in salted dark chocolate with a hint of dried lavender sprinkled over the chocolate with a whisper of dried red chili pepper.
Finish: That chocolate amps up late on the finish as the huckleberry gets juicy and slightly smoked with burnt orange rinds leading to soft vanilla and sour cream cut with dried red chili pepper flakes.
Bottom Line:
This is a delicious mezcal — that chocolate and huckleberry vibe just works. This is a great candidate to sip slowly with a little ice on a slow day, especially if you’re looking for something berry-forward and lush.
3. Mezcal Los Siete Misterios Mezcal Joven Arroqueño
This mezcal uses very old Arroqueño agave (some plants are up to 25 years old when harvested). The slow-roasted hearts are hand-ground before open fermentation then clay pot distillation. After a very short rest, the mezcal is just cut with local water and bottled as-is.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Lime leaves and dried sage drive the nose toward grapefruit pith and mild earthiness with a good dose of pepper and smoky agace stems.
Palate: The citrus and herbal vibes mount on the palate as notes of burnt sugar and old lemon tea leaves lead to a bitter sense of burnt citrus tobacco.
Finish: Notes of black pepper and smoked dirt drive the finish toward a moment of pine-laced honey and more smoked black pepper.
Bottom Line:
This feels like the most “classic” all-around mezcal on the list. It’s balanced, deep, and delicious. It offers everything you want and more from an essential mezcal profile. Pour it over a rock and have at it.
Tobalá agave (Potatorum) is the top of the mountain when it comes to agave for making mezcal. The agave is super rare and has a 100% unique flavor profile. In this case, the hearts are slowly roasted underground, open fermented, and then double-distilled in copper pot stills.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nose opens with fresh peaches floating in salted and lightly smoked heavy cream next to soft vanilla oils, orange zest, honeydew melon peels, and a whisper of cigarette ash in a clay ashtray.
Palate: The vanilla and creamy smoke heavy cream bind on the taste into a pannacotta with a caramel sauce cut with orange zest, dried lavender, and cinnamon bark next to a touch of smoldering smudging sage and olive brine.
Finish: The smudging sage and olive brine mix on the finish with a sense of orange and mint tossed in olive oil and hit with large flakes of smoked salt and smoked almonds next to a few warm coals from an almost extinguished campfire.
Bottom Line:
This is mezcal at MAX volume. It’s deeply smoky and earthy with a clear and concise sense of creamy goodness, bright fruit, and dank savoriness. It’s really freaking good neat or on a rock, folks.
This rare mezcal is made with “Coyote” agave (Americana L.) is a “super” blue agave (similar to what’s used in tequila in Jalisco, Mexico). The agaves are slowly roasted underground before open-vat fermentation and then clay pot distilling.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Banana bread with a smear of smoked salted butter and plenty of almonds, baking spice, and a crispy edge drives the nose toward rich toffee and old boot leather before this fleeting whisper of Original Old Spice arrives.
Palate: Hot buttered rum and brandy-soaked raisins drive the palate toward fresh nougat and almond next to black peppercorns cracked into whole-fat cottage cheese with a dash of celery salt, clove buds, and star anise.
Finish: Brandied cherries dipped in salted dark chocolate arrive on the finish as soft mintiness moves the taste toward soft smoldering roasting herbs and winter spice barks with a fleeting sense of burnt vanilla pods and over-cooked caramel lurking deep in the finish.
Bottom Line:
This is a world-class spirit. It’s so deep and nostalgic with a truly broad sense of beautiful flavor notes that all add up to something big and bold. It’s also just delicious. Pour it neat or over a rock and take it slow. You’ll in be for a wonderful journey.
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(@hausofJazzy) March 31, 2024
