Yola Mezcal 1971 (75cl, 45%)

A joven mezcal from Yola Mezcal, bottled at 45% ABV in a 750ml bottle. It is made on the brand's farm in San Juan del Rio, Oaxaca from Espadin and Madrecuixe agave harvested fully ripe at seven to ten years, following a family recipe created in 1971. The agave is roasted in an earthen oven, crushed by tahona, fermented in oak barrels with spring and rain water, and double distilled in a copper pot still to proof, with no water added. The current recipe is 90% Espadin and 10% Madrecuixe. It won Gold at The Tequila & Mezcal Masters 2021. The brand's own line opens with peppered citrus and gives way to a soothing, smoky finish. Retailers consistently add clean agave, bright earthy minerality, ripe tropical fruit, especially pineapple, a touch of caramel sweetness, and a piney edge from the Madrecuixe, with smoke kept vibrant but moderate throughout.