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Del Maguey Tobala is mezcal with soul – handcrafted in the remote mountain villages of Oaxaca using traditions that go back over 500 years. This one’s made from Tobala agave, which grows wild at high altitudes and is tiny compared to the more common Espadin. You need about eight Tobala hearts to get the same spirit you’d get from just one Espadin – which makes this mezcal incredibly special.

The founder, Ron Cooper, kicked things off in 1995, building close ties with Zapotec mezcaleros and letting each family craft their own expression. Every bottle is named after the village where it’s made, and the artwork? That’s by Ken Price – a legendary L.A. artist and Cooper’s old neighbour back in the ’60s.

Flavour-wise, it’s got this lush tropical fruit note up front, with a rich, sweet aroma… and then the smoke kicks in. Not harsh, but deep and warming. Absolutely perfect in a Smokey Margarita or Paloma, but if you want to sip it neat – go for it. It’s that good.

Always a hit when we pour it in the bar. You’ll understand why with one taste.