Holy Smoke! It's Mezcal! Quotes

“Tepeztates are strong on the nose with a pronounced herbal scent—almost marijuana-like in some cases (if you drink enough of it, the effects may be similar). The herbal quality continues on the palate accompanied by rich roasted agave. As your mezcal palate develops, you are likely to find yourself drawn to tepeztates.”
― John P. McEvoy, Holy Smoke! It's Mezcal!: A Complete Guide from Agave to Zapotec

“As mezcal is certainly an acquired taste for some, an initial reaction for a new mezcal drinker to a robust joven might not be pleasant. Several years ago as I was getting deeply into mezcal, my wife was no fan. I kept insisting this spirit is amazing while she kept insisting it tasted like a doctor’s office on a good day, or dirty socks on a bad day (nice visual, right?). How she knows what either of these tastes like, I don’t want to know. But in any case there was no convincing her. Then in late 2009, Ilegal came onto the scene with its reposado and anejo which were the first aged mezcals I had seen in the U.S. My wife, having virtually sworn off mezcal for all eternity, instantly took to the anejo and declared it magnificent! After I picked myself up off the floor, I knew there was another path to developing a mezcal palate. Now, of course, she’ll take a daily joven arroqueño IV-drip, but she may have never found mezcal without an anejo introduction.”
― John P. McEvoy, Holy Smoke! It's Mezcal!: A Complete Guide from Agave to Zapotec