Review: The Lost Explorer Mezcals – Espadín, Tobala, and Salmiana
The Lost Explorer brand began making mezcal on the Miztec land in Valles Centrales, Oaxaca in late 2020, with Maestro Mezcalero Fortino Ramos behind the tahona. Don Fortino has been working in the industry for over 40 years and now works with his daughter, who is training to become the next generation Mezcalera.
The Lost Explorer grows their own agave for 8 to 12 years depending on the type of agave, all of which is hand-harvested in San Pablo, Huixtepec, Oaxaca. A portion of the piñas are cooked in the traditional method in-ground, while the rest of the piñas are steamed in an above-ground brick oven. The brand explains that this method is healthier for their employees’ working conditions and the environmental footprint while still delivering traditional, authentic smoky flavors. They also use a more modern approach to milling, which is more efficient and gentle than using donkeys. The Lost Explorer ferments the agave in open-top oak barrels with pure spring water and wild yeast and double distills small batches in copper alembic stills.
Sustainability is a pillar of The Lost Explorer brand, which is working on land preservation and local farming initiatives, social community, and water access projects and empowering Mexican enterprise.
Each expression from The Lost Explorer brand is bottled in glass made in Mexico from recycled crystal scraps, biodegradable cork, and natural beeswax. The Trilogy Pack reviewed here contains three 200ml mezcal expressions with bottles that resemble their full size counterparts. (Pricing below represents 750ml bottles of the individual expressions.)
Each is 84 proof. NOM 0404X.
The Lost Explorer Mezcal Espadín – 100% maguey (Agave Angustifolia) grown for 8 years. The nose is bright and full of aroma, showing sweet fruit and hints of white pepper. The flavor is clean and bright, matching the aromatics. Crisp apples and juicy pears are abundant, with gentle smoke and hints of white pepper in the finish. Midpalate the herbaceous flavors come forward, though they are still in concert with the sweet fruits, no one flavor dominating and offering approachability. The viscosity and sweet flavors balance well, creating a clean finish. For folks new to the world of mezcal, this expression is perfect for offering a welcoming profile with plenty of flavor with gentle smokiness. Mezcal lovers will enjoy sipping this expression neat, and although it’s an easy sipper, the flavors offer plenty of interest to keep you sipping. A- / $65
The Lost Explorer Mezcal Tobalá – 100% maguey (Agave Potatorum) grown for 10 years. Bold aromas are present right at the start. Similar to the Espadín, the smoke remains in concert with the other aromas. The pungent aroma of alcohol and woodsiness is not off-putting, and fruit flavors come to the fore with smoke in tandem in the first few sips. Juicy fruit and some hints of cocoa linger in the background. The well balanced viscosity seems to be the key to keeping The Lost Explorer’s mezcal refreshing enough, though this expression has bolder and drier flavors than the Espadin. The finish brings some salinity with hints of wood and light smoke, and clean sweet flavors remain behind. This mezcal is bolder in flavor but still keeps the delicate balance offering approachability. I can imagine this mezcal working well in cocktails and holding its own amongst other cocktail components. A- / $150
The Lost Explorer Salmiana – 100% maguey (Agave Salmiana) grown for 12 years. The aroma of this expression delivers a powerhouse of herbs and an earthy profile. The aromas feel unexpected because the two other expressions are so delicate, and it feels like nosing a gin rather than a mezcal, but with hints of smoke. The flavor is full, rich, and bold with herbs. Green vegetable flavors and spice come forward mid palate with a specific flavor of green chili. The spice does not overtake the herbaceousness, and the fruit is present in the finish this time, showing off juicy citrus. Less dry than the Tobalá, this expression is mouth watering. Herbal flavors fade, leaving notes of grapefruit and watermelon to linger. The smoke once again is very subtle and remains in the background to create more of a sweet roasted profile. I can imagine how fantastic this mezcal would be in an Old Fashioned or a Paloma. I would suggest a few dashes of club soda if you must, or a splash of grapefruit juice in warm weather. Otherwise, this mezcal is a concert that needs no opener. A / $180
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