First mezcal I’ve ever tried (not counting tequila if you want to get technical), and honestly this is unlike any other spirit I’ve ever had. Mine is from a May 2017 batch by Joel Barriga. 50.7% ABV. I’ll admit I don’t entirely like the smell, I find it reminiscent of tire rubber, but sharper. Not necessarily bad but far from appetizing. Everything from there is amazing though. Smoke is apparent from the outset. Equally present is a sweetly vegetal taste with notes of rubber band (there’s a note I never thought I’d find in a drink). The smoke stays through the finish, with the vegetal and rubber notes switching places before fading away, the smoke and rubber battling for the upper hand as they linger. I was expecting something similar to tequila, as they’re both agave spirits. This is a whole nother animal, and a beautiful one at that.