Noble Coyote Mezcal Espadin (Capón)

Noble Coyote is a family brand making mezcal in San Luis Amatlan and Santiago Matatlan in Oaxaca, and this is a special Espadin, Agave angustifolia, produced by hand in the artesanal style. Its distinguishing feature is the capon method, a joven bottled unaged at 45%.
When the flower stalk begins to rise from the heart of the agave it is cut away, so the sugars stay in the plant rather than feeding the bloom. The capped pinas are then left in the field for around another year to build still more sugar before harvest, which yields a more concentrated and powerful spirit. The result shows intense flowers, wood, citrus and anise on the nose with a light smoke, and a palate of lemongrass, anise, lemon and mandarin. The producer also leans into sustainability, from labels made of recycled agave fibre to bagasse turned into fuel for the ovens.