35 Responses

  1. Tyler at |

    That collection blows my mind!

    Have you noticed the taste of your mezcals changing over time as they “age in glass”.

    One mezcal I’m really enjoying right now (out of many) is the Lágrimas de Dolores Joven from Durango. Unfortunately not sold in the US. Worth checking it if you’ve never tried it.

    Any update on the t-shirts?

    Thanks for another fun post!

    Reply
    1. Mezcal PhD at |

      Thanks Tyler. The collection is ever growing. My more bottles now! I have not had the brand you mentioned. I am in Oaxaca soon so will be on the look out! Keep drinkin’ mezcal!

      Reply
  2. Candice at |

    I’m new to the party, but I’ve got 23 – so far 😉

    SO FUN.

    Yay, mezcal!

    Where in Ohio are you, Eric Gunn? I’m in Columbus

    Reply
    1. Mezcal PhD at |

      23 is pretty good. Nothing to sneeze at! Keep building!!

      Reply
  3. MezcalReview at |

    I have 54 different expressions here in Oaxaca….not a huge collection but the turnover rate is high (alarmingly so sometimes!) While not large in number- rich in diversity- some odd ones such as Belato, Cucharilla, a Henequen- made here in Oaxaca from Maguey brought from Campeche, Horno and Mexicanito from the Mixteca , Pulque Chino and a few different Puntas . Cheers!

    Reply
    1. Mezcal PhD at |

      54 is nothing to sneeze at – even in Oaxaca. So nicely done and I get that turnover rate! I envy those odd ones and look forward to getting together in Oaxaca next time I am there!

      Reply
  4. eric gunn at |

    Currently have 39 unique bottles. Do I get bonus points for living in Ohio where there only offer five offerings available anywhere in the state (DM Vida, Ilegal x3, & Monte Albon)? Thank agave for online liquor stores & out of state friends. Hopefully I’ll take my first pilgrimage to Mecca (I mean Oaxaca later this year or early next) and that number will grow.

    Reply
    1. Mezcal PhD at |

      Eric, that is a good total and bonus point worthy! You have out performed your state by miles! But as for free T-shirts you have some people ahead of you. Still, you can probably say you have the largest private mezcal collection in Ohio I would bet. Serious bragging rights! Thanks for counting them up and sending it in.

      Reply
  5. ken at |

    I’m about the same as Max — just did a quick and dirty count, and, not including samples, I’ve got about 30-ish mezcals kicking around amongst 100-ish other bottles at the moment. Wish I could call it a “bar,” though — it’s really just piled up in boxes in my pantry 🙁

    Reply
    1. Agave Idiots at |

      Thanks for the shout out! Hmmm, mezcal, bacanora, raicillia, sotol, but not tequila (a mezcal of the blue weber Tequiliana variety). We have lots. Haven’t counted them yet, but since we’re still relatively new to mezcal, the not tequila agave spirits, the count isn’t near as much as mezcal’a cousin. ” Too much tequila/mezcsl is enough!” That said, the only caveat is quality over quantity. Saludos!

      Reply
      1. Mezcal PhD at |

        I love the Agave Idiots! You guys have more tequila than most brands and you don’t mess with the cheap stuff! But you need more mezcal my friend…..

        Reply
  6. Marwinski at |

    …that would be 85….could have been over 90 had I not already consumed many 250ml bottles brought back from Oax in Jan….how can I post the spreadsheet of my inventory?

    Reply
    1. Edward at |

      How ’bout uploading it to Google docs, make the spreadsheet public, and post a link?

      Reply
      1. Marwinski at |

        Will do

        Reply
  7. Bud Dana at |

    I have always enjoyed mescal but today I am a diabetic and restrict what I embibe. How much sugar is mescal? If you declare it to be a drinkable product for diabetics than you increase sales by millions of dollars. Just a thought.

    Bud Dana

    Reply
    1. Mezcal PhD at |

      Sorry I cannot help you with the medical questions, but thanks for reading.

      Reply
      1. Tepextario at |

        Like the Editor, I’m unqualified to help with medical questions, but that won’t stop me from playing TV doctor….I think the liver sees alcohol and sugars similarly

        Reply
    2. Edward at |

      The problem with diabetes and spirits isn’t the amount of sugar; it’s the alcohol itself that’s the problem. Alcohol interferes with many of the medicines used to control diabetes. It affects the liver which in turn plays havoc with your blood sugar. And it has a tendency to cause hypoglycemia which can be dangerous if you’re taking insulin. Sorry, but it’s best for diabetics to avoid alcohol altogether.

      Reply
  8. Max Garrone at |

    Alas my personal collection pales in comparison to yours John. I suspect that I may not have more than 100 bottles in my bar including rare expressions of Montenagran grappa and San Franciscan grappa. The mezcal portion of the bar cycles rather continuously but I don’t count more than 40, probably closer than 30. I’m sure that number will bloom considerably once I return from Mexico in the coming weeks but still nothing to rival the McEvoy Collection of Mezcal (MCM).

    Next question, what’s your organizing principle? Alphabetical by maker? Dewey decimal variant? Regional? Label color?

    Reply
    1. Mezcal PhD at |

      Max, I am sure your collection, while a bit smaller than mine, is one to envy! As for my organizing principles, they are virtually non-existent. I do have a growing collection of unopened bottles that I am putting away for another time. Rare bottles, most silvetres, but some others. These will be more difficult to find in the future I am guessing and/or they just won’t taste the same as they do today. And then i have some that I just know I will never really drink because they are no very good. Those two collections are non on display anywhere and “in the back room” so to speak. Other than that, the ones on the bar cart in the living room stay fresh with things that I like to drink and new arrivals. When I get to 500 bottles maybe I will get more systematic on the storage system!

      Thanks for contributing!

      Reply
  9. Marwinski at |

    After re-reading your post, by your rules I can indeed count my 200ml and 250ml “little guys” of which I brought back so many. Unfortunately, most are gone now.

    Reply
  10. Edward at |

    *sigh* So, much mezcal, so little time.
    I can’t imagine there’d be many out there that could challenge that list. Curiously though, my minuscule collection does have four bottles not found on your list.

    Reply
    1. Mezcal PhD at |

      Four bottles not on my list? Varietals of brands that I have or I don’t have the brands? Please advise. Also, I may had had them in the past…..consumption is heavy at my place! Let me know.

      Reply
      1. Edward at |

        A couple are varietals you’ve certainly had, but a couple may be unique:

        Siete Misterios (barril)
        Wahaka Joven (espadin)
        Zacbe’ Joven (50% espadin, 50% cirial)
        Bronco Matateco Pechuga

        Reply
        1. Mezcal PhD at |

          Cool. Never seen that Siete in the US (only the amazing Arro). Wahaka joven has come and gone many times. Great for cocktails that is why I have used it a bunch. Never tried Zacbe – is it available in the US? And never heard of the last one. Again, available in the U.S?

          Reply
          1. Edward at |

            The Siete was brought back from Mexico by a friend. It reminded me of some of the Pierde Almas I’ve tried but with definite briny notes.

            Info on the Zacbe’ can be found here: http://www.proof66.com/exotics/zacbe-joven-mezcal.html. My wife picked this one up in Veracruz, but the bottle appears to be labeled for distribution in the US.

            The pechuga was also acquired in Veracruz and bottled for sale only in Mexico. It is triple distilled with the third distillation with fruits in the still and a turkey breast hung above. The fruits are very apparent in the nose and flavor, but I can only occasionally detect hints of the turkey in the body. This one was embarrassing inexpensive.

          2. Mezcal PhD at |

            All sounds good to me! Thanks for contributing!

  11. Judah at |

    I’ll trade you two bottles of mezcal and all you can drink to inventory my collection.

    Reply
    1. Mezcal PhD at |

      Ha! Would love to see it. Even though you are in the business, the personal collection counts. No deep dive inventory needed but a bottle count is required. You may just win a T-shirt for the Mexico category. Exciting!

      Reply
  12. Tory Smith at |

    My collection was so big I needed a website and a warehouse! But that was Mexico so I guess that means I’m disqualified =/

    Reply
    1. Mezcal PhD at |

      You ar not disqualified if it is a personal collection. You can rule the Mexico category! But if your personal collection has become your commercial business, that would disqualify you since your business is kind of like a liquor store.

      So what do you have at HOME these days? Be fair.

      Reply
  13. Mike Jones at |

    Wow ! I’ll be very surprised if I learn someone in the US has a larger collection. Mezcaloteca maybe… In Situ maybe… Nobody else could possibly come close John. Your collection is 12 times larger than mine. I want to come to NYC and drink mezcal with you in your billiard room.

    I agree with you about the little bottles. If you open one up, its gone.
    Mike

    Reply
    1. Mezcal PhD at |

      I look forward to drinking with you in my ummmm….ahhhhh….billiard room. Yeah, that’s it. Billiard room!

      In Situ has more unique bottles for sure but they are in the bar category. Let’s see if any individuals show up with more!

      Reply
  14. Marwinski at |

    …outstanding! …but little bottles if unique ought to be a category…my count forthcoming and nice quantizing!

    Reply
    1. Mezcal PhD at |

      Hmmm on the little bottles. Just feels like cheating. Buying a real bottle is making an investment into your mezcal portfolio. Buying a little bottle is like buying a lottery ticket- no real investment. It’s a throw away.

      Reply

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