Ben 8/5/23 Ben 8/5/23

Inside Hook / Mezcal Mal Bien Is the Antidote to Every Cringey Celebrity Spirits Brand

At a recent tasting at Rossoblu, the sprawling Italian outpost of chef Steve Samson, an unlikely pairing was going on. Instead of matching wine with the chef’s signature pastas and pizzas, brand ambassador George Garcia from Mezcal Mal Bien paired his spirit selections with custom-made Italian-Mexican fusion dishes, sharing tasting notes and a little of the story behind each batch. The Mal Bien founders, Ben Scott and Anthony Silas, spend most of their time in rural Mexican communities around Oaxaca and Guerrero, meeting with mezcaleros and importing batches through the label....

Ben 6/21/23 Ben 6/21/23

Zacate Limon is here

Ben 2/21/23 Ben 2/21/23

Essential Mezcal reviews

MAL BIEN MEZCAL ARTESANAL

Receta Original de Lucio Morales Lopez, San Dionisio Ocotepec, Oax.

Espadín (A. angustifolia)

An easy-drinking, great value mezcal. Smoked cherries and leather are crisp, autumnal aromas. The flavors start out with a hit of salt and tangy brine before developing into sweet earthy asparagus with a touch of piloncillo. Dried citrus and herbs linger on the finish.

MAL BIEN PAPALOTE

Ciro and Javier Barranca, Chilapa de Alvarez, Guerrero

Papalote (A. cupreata)

A unique and dynamic sipping mezcal that is a treat to have in the glass. Honeyed aromas have an earthy backbone with dried firewood and carrot tops. The flavors burst onto the palate with tangy citrus and fresh acidity. The mid palate is ripe with jicama and sweet bell peppers, leading into a creamy vanilla and spice-kissed finish.

MAL BIEN QUIOTE DE ALTO

Isidro Rodriguez Montoya, Río de Parras, Michoacán

Alto (A. inaequidens)

Made exclusively from the quiote of the agave. A unique treat. Fruity aromas are reminiscent of bubblegum, watermelon, and strawberry-flavored candy. The fruitiness is long lasting, accentuated with notes of berry rock candy and generous citrus-flecked spice that build on the palate after each sip.

Ben 2/17/23 Ben 2/17/23

Agave En línea Short

An introduction to some of the people, plants and places behind a few of the spirits available on AgaveEnLinea.com.

Ben 12/7/22 Ben 12/7/22

Sevenfifty daily / Why Some producers no longer call their spirits mezcal

Ben Scott is the cofounder of Pueblo de Sabor , which imports the highly regarded labels of Mal Bien , Agave Mix Tape , and Lalocura . One Mal Bien expression is certified as mezcal, but the rest of his products are agave spirits. For Scott, the real issue of certification is whether the requirements alter the end product, because the concept of his company is to import bottles that express their makers’ visions.

Ben 12/7/22 Ben 12/7/22

Vinepair / The 50 Best Spirits of 2022

Mal Bien’s packaging evokes the single-use plastic bottles adorned with painters tape that have come to define drinking interesting, small-production mezcal stateside. Far from a gimmick, this producer showcases a curated selection of some of the best small-production mezcals from across Mexico. Produced by Don Isidro Rodríguez Montoya and entirely from the alto variety, this release is clean and mineral-driven, with enticing tropical fruit aromas. A wealth of savory complexity awaits on the palate, ideal for neat sipping occasions or a rocks glass laden with ice and lime.

William Bahan 7/19/22 William Bahan 7/19/22

Winter 2021 Updates

Ben 3/19/22 Ben 3/19/22

Food & Wine / The Best Premium Mezcals, According to Professionals

Mal Bien is a label that highlights various mezcaleros from villages throughout Mexico. The clean, oily Mal Bien Alto is produced by mezcalero Don Isidro Rodriguez Montoya from Rio de Parras, Michoacán. "This mezcal, made from the Alto varietal, is bright, mineral-driven with notes of slate, and a touch of watermelon-rind sweetness," says Erik Lund, Bar Director at Pretty Dirty. "It's fermented in underground stone pits with a dash of pulque (fermented agave sap) for only 8-10 days before being distilled in wooden stills."