Convite Mezcal Esencial

Convite is Oaxaca's top-selling mezcal, and Esencial is where it starts. Founded in 2013 and Oaxacan-owned, the brand is made in the Zapotec mountains of San Baltazar Guelavila by brothers Cosme "Tucho" and Daniel Hernández, the sixth generation of master distillers in their family, with no accelerators or added flavors and at least three agaves planted for every one harvested. Esencial is the essential bottling: espadín of eight-plus years, cooked in an underground pit oven, milled by a horse-drawn tahona, naturally fermented with spring water, and double-distilled in a copper alembic, then cut to 40% ABV — lighter than the rest of the lineup, and deliberately so. Paste found light-to-moderate smoke and roast meeting fresh herbal notes and a savory saltiness — dry, earthy, grassy, a woodfire in the distance rather than tarry rope — and called it a good starter mezcal for cocktail adventures. Convite's own notes: citrus zest and a touch of smoke on the nose, green bell pepper on the palate, a long briny finish. Mezcal Reviews' tasters: dry wood roast, clean and smooth, cooked agave with a hint of fresh herbs. Honest note: this is Convite's bar-friendly bottle, proofed down for mixing — the Espadín-Madrecuishe and the wild-agave releases are where the brothers show off. For a Mezcal Margarita, a Paloma, a Mezcal Negroni, or a first neat pour, it's the essential Oaxacan.

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