Inclusivo Mezcal Joven

Inclusivo Mezcal Joven is a young mezcal, meaning it is bottled without meaningful barrel aging. That puts it at the unaged end of the range, where the agave and the roasting process carry the flavor instead of oak. The listing doesn't give the agave species, region or proof, so check the bottle label for those. Expect what joven mezcals usually offer: cooked agave sweetness, a thread of wood smoke from the earthen-pit roast, and some combination of citrus peel, green pepper or mineral notes. The smoke can be light or pronounced depending on the producer, so treat those notes as typical of the style, not a measured profile of this bottle. Within agave spirits, a joven mezcal sits in roughly the same position as a tequila blanco or silver. It is the clearest, least-modified version of the spirit. Reposado rests a few months to a year in oak, which tends to add vanilla and soften the edges. Añejo spends one to three years in wood, and extra añejo longer than that. Each step trades some raw agave and smoke for caramel, baking spice and a rounder texture. A joven skips all of that, which is why it suits drinkers who want the smoke and plant character left intact. Neat, it works best at room temperature in a caballito or a small tulip-shaped glass. Sip it in small amounts and let it open up. A slice of orange with a pinch of sal de gusano, or plain sea salt, is the traditional pairing and cuts through the smoke. Over a single large cube in a rocks glass is a gentler way in. The same smoky profile also suits cocktails. In a Margarita it stands in for tequila and gives the drink a savory edge, so keep the lime fresh and the sweetener modest. A Paloma with grapefruit soda and a salted rim lets the smoke show without overwhelming the citrus. For Ranch Water, pour it over ice with lime and sparkling mineral water in a tall glass. It makes a dry, lightly smoky highball.