Montelobos Ensamble Joven Puebla Mezcal 70cl

Big mezcal energy, but with layers you can actually follow. This Puebla joven ensamble is the bottle to grab when you want smoke, roasted agave, citrus, herbs and pepper all showing up in the same glass without turning into a bonfire dare.

“Joven” means it skips barrel ageing, so the agave stays front and centre. “Ensamble” means it’s made from more than one agave variety, in this case Espadín, Tobalá and Papalote. That matters because each one brings something different: Espadín gives the backbone, Tobalá brings aromatic lift, and Papalote adds a wild, earthy snap. So yes, it’s complex. No secret handshake required.

• Nose: Roasted agave, grilled pineapple, lime peel, fresh herbs and a clean thread of smoke.
• Taste: Cooked agave, green pepper, citrus oil, earthy minerals and a savoury herbal kick, with smoke sitting around the edges rather than shouting over everything.
• Finish: Peppery and dry, with lingering roasted fruit, ash, herbs and that “okay, one more tiny sip” pull.

This is a great next step if your mezcal journey started with easygoing Espadín and you’re ready for something with more moving parts. It has enough structure for neat sipping, enough brightness for cocktails, and enough personality to make your usual tequila routine feel a bit underdressed.

Try it neat with an orange slice and a pinch of sal de gusano if you’ve got it. For cocktails, it makes a killer Mezcal Margarita with fresh lime and agave syrup, or a smoky Paloma with grapefruit soda. It also plays nicely with grilled prawns, tacos al pastor, charred corn, or anything with lime, chilli and a little fire.

The Puebla origin is part of the fun here. Oaxaca gets most of the mezcal spotlight, but Puebla brings a different accent: earthy, mineral, herbal and just a little wilder around the edges. That makes this a strong pick for curious drinkers who want a bottle that feels familiar enough to enjoy right away, but interesting enough to keep pulling you back.

What we like most is that it doesn’t use smoke as a party trick. The flavour keeps unfolding, roasted fruit first, then citrus, then herbs, then pepper, then that dry, earthy finish. It’s the kind of mezcal that makes you pause mid-sentence, which is annoying for conversation but excellent for drinking.

Fun Fact: Montelobos means “mountain of wolves,” and the brand was co-founded by agave expert Iván Saldaña, who built the range around showing just how different agave can taste when you let the plant lead.