Montelobos Tobala Joven Puebla Mezcal 70cl

Small agave, huge flavour payoff. This joven Puebla mezcal is made from Tobalá agave, the little wild-spirited cousin that mezcal fans tend to whisper about with slightly too much excitement. It’s unaged, so you get the agave loud and clear: roasted fruit, green herbs, clean smoke, and that stony Puebla edge that makes every sip feel alive.

• Nose: Roasted pineapple, green pepper, fresh herbs, light smoke, and a touch of wet stone.
• Taste: Bright cooked agave, citrus peel, tropical fruit, earthy minerality, and a gentle smoky warmth that supports instead of bulldozing.
• Finish: Long, savoury, and slightly herbal, with smoke, pepper, and sweet roasted agave hanging around.

If your only mezcal reference is something aggressively smoky, this is a very good reset. Tobalá brings complexity without turning the glass into a campfire. Sip it neat, add an orange slice if you like, and give it a minute to open up. Good things happen.

It also works beautifully when you want a cocktail with more backbone. Try it in a Mezcal Paloma with grapefruit soda and lime, or swap it into a Margarita when you want the drink to feel brighter, earthier, and a lot less predictable.

The magic here is the contrast. There’s juicy fruit, but also pepper. There’s smoke, but also freshness. There’s that savoury mineral thing that makes you pause mid-sip and go, “Okay, what is that?” That’s the good bit.

Food-wise, go bold but not fussy: grilled prawns, tacos al pastor, charred corn, roasted aubergine, or anything with lime, chilli, and a little smoke of its own. Basically, if it loves fire and citrus, it’ll get along with this.

If you already like Espadín mezcal and want the next step, Tobalá is where the rabbit hole gets fun. It’s more layered, more aromatic, and a little more mischievous. Dangerous territory for curious drinkers.

Fun Fact: Montelobos was co-founded by Dr. Iván Saldaña, an agave biologist, which helps explain why their mezcals feel geeky in the best possible way, but still very easy to enjoy.