Mezcalosfera, Tobala Mezcal (Aniceto Garcia)

Tobala is the agave that makes distillers sigh. Agave potatorum grows wild in the shade on rocky slopes, and its pinas are small, so it takes a mountain of them to fill a bottle, which is why tobala is always scarce. Aniceto Garcia made this one, and Mezcalosfera credits him by name alongside the agave and the method, because knowing exactly what is in the bottle is the whole reason the project exists. Tobala usually runs delicate and perfumed rather than brawny: florals, citrus peel and a stony core under gentle smoke. Serve it at room temperature in a copita and take your time with it. Nothing on ice, nothing in a cocktail.