I'm a mezcal neophyte and don't have much to compare to (two to be exact, both thanks to my buddy Pranay). We had dinner last night at Tico's restaurant in downtown Boston with my daughter, her husband and her in laws and I was surprised to see they had a selection of mezcals. So while everyone else was enjoying their margaritas I had this mezcal neat. Smokey, earthy, vegetal, and a bit salty are apparently common characteristics to mezcals, at least the three that I've now experienced. I find the smokiness and earthiness the most pleasurable aspects. None of my companions wanted to try it which worked well for me because I wasn't sure I really wanted to share. This spirit confirms my quest to experience the spectrum of mezcals though oddly, I currently have no interest in trying tequilas. Dry glass - earth. Music - Wicked Rain/Across 110th Street by Los Lobos and Bobby Womack.