This has every characteristic of a madrecuishe you would expect: low viscosity, minerality, and super light/floral. You can drink A LOT of this. At $99, it’s a bottle I’ll regularly replace in my home bar.

It’s got a pretty significant ethanol bite right off the bat, followed by a smoky agave syrup. Slightly sweet. At $50, there are better options and I won’t replace the bottle.

I swear, it tastes exactly like cream corn. It’s also way sweeter than any other mezcal I’ve tasted, which makes it significantly more approachable for beginners. You can easily drink A LOT of it, and make some mistakes in the process. Expect a smooth, creamy flavor with hints of roasted corn and a waft of smoke. It’s a no-brainer to keep stocked on your shelf.

Not for the faint of heart, this one is pretty bold and beautiful. For espadin lovers, this is a big boy at 51% ABV that checks every box on your list. With the strong vapor and bite, it takes about midway through your copita to truly start to appreciate the flavors. I would recommend picking up a bottle, opening it and leaving it to cool down for a couple months. It’s worth it.