Animas Joven Mezcal (750ml)

I've said it many times myself: It's annoyingly difficult to get good, smoky mezcal at a moderate price point. Animas fills that agave-shaped hole in my life. The smoke comes on with moderate strength, giving wafts of charred wood and burnt earth, but it doesn't overpower the agave. Lightly tropical notes unfold the more I sniff with orange, lime, and mango. The palate has a great savory note with a mouth-watering saltiness and earthy minerality.

While there are less expensive mezcals available, very few in the sub $50 category deliver this much flavor and intensity. With the sky rocketing price of agave, it's getting harder and harder to find quality at a reasonable price point. This espadin mezcal is stuffed with intense fruit components and balanced by a perfect slightly saline minerality and gentle smoke. And that's just the nose. The palate reiterates all of those notes but adds a crystal clear black pepper spice to the mix. The finish is medium length and very clean. The perfect place to start a mezcal journey, or to keep your hands off the super high end wild agave while you play around with cocktails.