The Lost Explorer Mezcal Espadin

The Lost Explorer Espadin is a joven mezcal from San Pablo Huixtepec in Oaxaca, made from cultivated Espadin (Agave angustifolia), the balanced and approachable workhorse of the category. It is the sweet, herbaceous heart of the Lost Explorer range, built around the classic Oaxacan valley profile of roasted agave with measured smoke.
The piñas are roasted for around three days in conical earthen pits lined with volcanic rock, reclaimed wood and river stones, which is the source of the mezcal smoke, then rested and milled on a stone tahona before fermentation and distillation. The crush and the pit show up as cooked agave, sweet red apple and ripe fruit, with fresh herbs and a soft, fruity finish that carries a light wisp of mesquite smoke rather than heavy char. Bottled at 42%, it is an accessible, fruit forward take on valley Espadin.