“Don’t forget, it should be kissed, not shot,” our mezcal expert instructed us, once he detected our automatic inclination to down the liquor in one gulp, a residue of tequila-binging habits in high school.

"And he was right: savoring is key with mezcal. As the alcoholic nectar coats the palate and then the throat in a silky liquid film, it evokes many complex nuances, with earth and smoke being the most readily identifiable ones...

“Don’t forget, it should be kissed, not shot,” our mezcal expert instructed us, once he detected our automatic inclination to down the liquor in one gulp, a residue of tequila-binging habits in high school.

"And he was right: savoring is key with mezcal. As the alcoholic nectar coats the palate and then the throat in a silky liquid film, it evokes many complex nuances, with earth and smoke being the most readily identifiable ones...