Montelobos Mezcal Artesanal Espadin (75cl, 43.2%)

An artisanal joven mezcal from Santiago Matatlán, Oaxaca, made from 100% organically certified Espadín agave. Created by Dr. Iván Saldaña and produced by Don Abel Lopez, the agaves are roasted for 5 to 7 days in a volcanic-stone earthen pit, crushed by tahona, naturally fermented and distilled in small copper pots. It is bottled at 43.2% ABV. The mezcal balances green agave, cooked agave, smoke and wild fermentation. The nose gives damp earth, honey, citrus and asparagus-grass; the palate shows cooked and green maguey, nuts, herbs, apple, pepper and ripe tropical fruit; the finish is smooth and medium-long, elegantly earthy with gentle wood smoke.