Sin Gusano Ensamble of 6
Discover Ensamble of 6 from mezcal brand Sin Gusano. A small batch made from a blend of six different agaves, did it prove a hit with our reviewer?
All products were chosen independently by our editorial team. This review contains affiliate links and we may receive a commission for purchases made. Please read our affiliates FAQ page to find out more and read about how we write BBC Good Food reviews.
Sin Gusano Ensamble of 6 – 44.3% ABV
Overall rating: 4/5
In a nutshell: A mezcal tasting set that takes you on a tour of six agave variations: espadin, tobala, cuishe, barril, arroqueňo and Mexicano. Truly small-batch, expect floral and grassy flavours.
Mezcal enthusiast Jon Darby quit his job in the City of London and started Sin Gusano after a holiday to Mexico in 2016. The name in English means ‘without worm’, as the worm is emphatically not a mezcal tradition – it was introduced as a marketing gimmick.
As part of Sin Gusano's desire to educate the UK public in mezcal, one tasting set contains three mezcals all made from the espadin agave, but made in different villages. The other set contains three samples of mezcals made from different agave plants. Both come with tasting notes and tasting glasses, allowing drinkers to compare regional varieties or agave varieties.
This Ensamble of 6, from the agave tasting set, is made up of a blend of six different agaves, using the traditional methods of an earthen pit for cooking, and stone wheel pulled by a horse for crushing the cooked agave. Only 250 litres were produced, making it definitely ‘small batch’.
The blending of agave has not surprisingly produced a complex result. The nose has a smooth, light scent, with not too much alcohol and a little like a meadow or a garden: fresh and flowery.
There's a touch of citrus too, and a warm earthy aroma, as well as straw. The alcohol comes through more on the palate, with dashes of citrus, a peppery spiciness, and a light and slightly floral taste.
We'd also recommend the San Gusano Jabalí, which is available direct from San Gusano.
The perfect pour
Neat, to appreciate the complexity. An ice cube is allowed, but make it a small one just to reduce the alcohol a little.
Read our full review of mezcals
This review was last updated in July 2019. If you have any questions or suggestions for future reviews, or spot anything that has changed in price or availability, please get in touch at goodfoodwebsite@immediate.co.uk. For information on alcohol guidelines, read our guide to drinking responsibly.
