Mezcal Alipús San Miguel de Sola

Sweet yet distinctly herbal. The sweetness quickly fades, replaced by an intensely strong Band-Aid flavor. It's full-bodied, but the bitter, medicinal finish is off-putting. It's an interesting spirit to sample, with various subtle notes interspersed. There are hints of fruit (akin to cherry), earthiness, a touch of tobacco, and suggestions of semi-sweet chocolate. There's some warmth, but not excessive. It has a subtle spice, similar to black pepper. It's somewhat intriguing and drinkable once the flavor becomes familiar, but the overpowering Band-Aid taste is a bit much. At least it doesn't excessively taste of alcohol; the alcohol might simply be masked by the Band-Aid flavor.

From Alchemy's Agave Club. A true pleasure. Scents of phenol, alcohol, and aged agave. Balanced on the palate with a lively sweetness and hints of iodine. A lingering peppery finish. I find myself frequently returning to this bottle and will be sad to see it gone.

Musty, vegetal nose with aged cheese and light citrus. Sweet, fruity, light white peppery taste. Definitely unique.

My first encounter with mezcal, and I was fortunate to select a fine bottle. Smoky, spicy, with that characteristic agave flavor.

Heavy smoke. A guest I had over remarked on the "barnyard" essence often found in wine.