123 Organic Craneo Mezcal 750ml

That smoke level is exactly what I hoped for — sweet and smoky, not harsh at all. Pours smooth and the organic Espadín comes through clean; my first sip was a solid confirmation this bottle earns its spot on the shelf.

The pit-roasted, stone-ground process really comes through — that sweet barbecue smoke is exactly the kind of restrained mezcal I’ve been hunting for. Poured a glass over ice after dinner and it was smooth from start to finish.

That first sip hit different — the smoke is there but it’s gentle, like a campfire you’re watching from across the yard, not a bonfire in your face. Glad I took a chance on the organic Espadín since the stone-ground process gives it a smoothness that makes it dangerously easy to keep pouring.