Cape Agave goes after the smoky, earthy intensity of mezcal rather than tequila's cleaner profile. African sage and mesquite do the heavy lifting on the smoke and earthiness, while jalapeño adds heat and citrus adds brightness. Agave is in there too, contributing a faint sweetness beneath the drier elements. It's produced by hydro-distillation, which separates the botanicals' flavours before blending. The nose opens with toasted oak and jalapeño heat, with citrus coming through to balance the smoke. On the palate there's firm acidity and a slight salinity in the finish that gives it more interest than a lot of spirit alternatives. Over ice with lime and a pinch of smoked salt is the natural serve, or shake it into a spirit-free margarita.