Reviews / Sotoleros Mario and César
Review ·
Sotoleros Mario and César
Aldama Red Label – journeyman sotol, honestly made
Score: 3.5/5 agaves
- Producer: Sotoleros
- Region: Aldama, Chihuahua
- ABV: 47%
- Price: $100 ($$$)
Verdict
Mario Arrieta and César Pacheco's Red Label is the bottle you reach for after you've already learned what sotol should taste like – balanced, Aldama-specific, unshowy. It's not going to displace Lupe López's lechuguilla or Bienvenido Fernández's cedrosanum at the top of the shelf, but it's an honest journeyman pour at its tier. Fine for what it is.
Not the Sotoleros bottle that teaches – the one that confirms
Tasting notes
Nose: Dry grass with light smoke, a trace of cedar
Palate: ~47% carries a mid-weight, balanced profile – Aldama's mineral signature legible, the distillers' care showing in the cleanness, nothing that dominates or demands
Finish: Dry, slate-tinged
The bottom line
Honest work. Climb to Lupe or Bienvenido for the ceiling
Where to buy online
We found this bottle at 1 US retailer. Prices and stock vary – click through to check.
- Old Town Tequila – $100
Price check: $100 (2026-07-29).