MAESTRO DOBEL HUMITO SMOKED SILVER TEQUILA, Mexico

Meaning “little smoke,” Humito is produced by the artisanal distillation methods used in the early days (think 17th century) of tequila production in mind. To create the smoked flavor, Maestro uses mesquite wood during the agave cooking process. One of the first things to be noticed was a slight salinity. Closer to the earthiness of rock salt than the freshness of an ocean breeze, the nose then gives way to subtle citrus notes. After you get through all this, you’re brought—as if taken gently by the hand—to the namesake piece of this tequila, the smokiness. It’s there, but it isn’t overwhelming. Finish: The smoke is back in town again, lingering from the time you swallowed through the fairly short finish. Warmth will pervade the mouth, but it doesn’t linger too long.