Don Amado Pechuga Mezcal (750ml) (Previously $90)

This unusual pechuga is made with no animal fats or by-products, just a whole lot of fruits (wild apples, bananas, apricots), nuts and spices. The end result is vegetal and complex, with sun-warmed hints of fresh tomato, bell pepper and basil in the nose and on the palate. Black pepper and peat-like smoke add a darker note, finishing with a spearmint jolt. (KN) (9/2017)

Originally established in 1700, the distillery that produces Don Amado is renowned throughout the southern Mexican state of Oaxaca as one of the finest producers of premium mezcal. The distillery uses only estate-grown agave to ensure the plant's high sugar levels, and mixes steam into the agave's smoke roasting to smooth out the mezcal's characteristically smoky flavor. Whereas "pechuga" usually refers to the chicken or turkey breast added to the distillation process to provide oils and fats, owner Jake Lustig has never been a fan of decomposing meats. Instead, he uses a combination of locally-sourced wild apples, wild apricots, stubby bananas, along with walnuts, cloves, cinnamon, and market-bought spices, the result is something in between mezcal and gin. The flavor of the agave is never compromised, but rather heightened and brightened by the addition of fruit and spice. Absolutely delicious!