Creyente Espadín

Sipping this neat from a repurposed steel salsa tumbler on a porch in Tulum. It's light, almost watery in a pleasing way. Smoke, of course, but also cucumber and something else I can't quite identify. Accessible and cheerful, the opposite of Malcolm Lowry’s prose in Under the Volcano, which I’m reading on said porch (hence the mezcal).

The aroma is faint, with hardly any smoke. It starts off a bit sweet, then vibrant fruit flavors emerge. Perhaps melon? Following that, a hint of chile-like spice appears, concluding with sweetness once more. It's certainly a pleasant mezcal, offering complexity, but don't expect a smoky experience from this.

Hands down the top mezcal I've ever tasted. It has just the right level of smoke, yet keeps a pleasant sweetness and agave character. It's expensive, but absolutely justified. I enjoy this neat like a sipping tequila, or to add a kick to my jalapeno margaritas.

I'm unsure how one person detected those specific flavors. While I'm certainly no Mezcal authority, I perceive a deep, charred peat smoke, initially reminding me of Ardbeg. This then mellows into light, sweet agave with a persistent dry char. Priced at $70 in Ontario.

Tasted neat alongside a friend in Monterrey, Mexico. The aroma is clearly young and earthy, with notes of agave and nail polish remover. The palate also has a nail polish remover flavor with a harsh finish.

This is a fantastic mezcal, with a beautiful texture, velvety smoothness, and classic smokiness. It feels like gently stroking a teddy bear in a cigar lounge. It's an excellent selection.