feature the spirit. Monterey’s Estéban Restaurant often lists a couple of mezcal-forward drinks, including their mezcal negroni and a house cocktail featuring Mezcal Verde Momento, Cocchi Rosa and umeshu. Thanks to Cultura Comida y Bebida and newcomer Nicolás Cocina de Herencia, Carmel has become Monterey County’s center for quality mezcal. Nicolás stocks 11 different bottles, outnumbering the tequilas. The offerings include the exquisite Clase Azul Durango, from wild Cenizo agave, prepared by long-held traditional methods. Even the bottle is hand crafted by Huichol artisans. Nicolás also offers the Clase Azul Guerrero from Paplote agave. Again, the bottle is representative of the state. To really explore the wide world of mezcal, Cultura Comida y Bebida has created a mezcal library of sorts, offering guests the opportunity to try smallbatch selections from specific regions of Mexico. They feature both blends and single-varietal mezcals, crafted by different distillers and using various fermentation methods. Beyond the type of agave and the region in which it’s grown, variables like water sources and fermentation methods—where tanks can be made of wood, stone, steel and even animal hide—all significantly influence the spirit’s flavor. “When we first opened, our investors thought we were kind of nuts because people hadn’t heard of mezcal since the ’90s as ‘the bottle with the worm in it,’” says Kabat-Marcy. “But each state is so different, and each region within each state is so different, which further stoked our interest in opening Cultura.” The name Cultura Comida y Bebida, she adds, is meant to reflect the diversity of cultures and regions showcased through their mezcal library and food. A tip for finding a mezcal with a richer, more authentic flavor profile: look for small-batch bottles—often under 500ml—avoid celebrity-backed brands, and check whether the label includes the name of the mezcalero, the person who made it. Kabat-Marcy adds, “That’s one step in the right direction.” Total Wine & More DANIEL DREIFUSS 42 THE BEST OF MONTEREY BAY ® EAT + DRINK 2025-2026 SAN SABA VINEYARD 4 Decades of Great Wines 2022 Wrath Pinot Noir San Saba Vineyard 95 PTS. VINOUS 2022 Wrath Fermata Chardonnay 92 PTS. VINOUS wrathwines.com 831-678-2212
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