Siete Misterios Tobalá Mezcal

No age statement here, and none is wanted. Tobalá is a small, wild agave that grows slowly in the hills of Oaxaca, and mezcal made from it tends to lean floral rather than heavy. This one does exactly that: agave blossom and bright citrus up front, with green herbs threaded through the length of it.

Underneath sits the earth, the mineral, faintly damp character that comes from roasting agave in an underground pit, and a smoke so soft it reads more as warmth than as char. Nothing is sanded down or sweetened. It is additive free, which means what you taste is agave, fire, and time in the still.

The 750 mL bottle earns its place on a shelf you reach for often. Sip it at room temperature, in something small, alongside a slice of orange if you like.