Koch El Mezcal Artesanal Maguey Espadin (70cl, 47%)

Koch El Mezcal Artesanal Maguey Espadin is an artisanal mezcal made from 100% farm-grown agave in Santa María Suchixtlán, Oaxaca, by maestro mezcalero Filogonio Cruz. The agave is harvested at seven to nine years old, baked for four days in a conical ground-level oven, crushed with a stone mill pulled by oxen, fermented in open-air cypress vats and double distilled in a 350-litre copper still. The nose has soft, sweet smoke like a fireplace, with overripe fruit, herbs, mint, violets and pineapple. The palate brings baked pineapple, coconut, roses and fresh-cut herbs, then ripe peach and cinnamon, ending with a hint of sherry jelly.