It’s mezcal week here at Modern Drinking HQ, otherwise known as Passover, a festival that marks the time when my ancestors wandered through the desert surviving on only agave spirits. I forgo whisky for these eight days because the Exodus story tells us that my people did not have time to let their new make spirit mature before they had to flee, or something like that. I may have got a few of the details wrong. Anyway, this mezcal is my second from Ilegal after the fantastic Anejo I tried the year before last. Here, the typical vegetal nose is interspersed with hints of jasmine, smoke and cream. There's a gin-like dryness to the taste at first, after which it bursts into sweet and creamy flavors. The long finish is gently smokey with a creamy aftertaste. This is an easy drinking mezcal that would be a good gateway for Scotch or gin drinkers exploring the spirit. Not as arresting as the Anejo, but better value at some 2/3 of the price, especially if you're stocking up for 40 years in the wilderness.