Optimist - Smokey - Non-Alcoholic Distilled Spirit

Pleasant as its own spirit but not as a mezcal replacement

Optimist's Smokey is a pleasant non-alcoholic, botanical spirit with a gentle smoke profile, but tastes nothing like a mezcal as it is advertised. The taste is much more floral and the body much lighter than a genuine maguey mezcal. It is generally unremarkable as a sipping drink and does not accurately replace mezcal in typical cocktails like a mezcalita or a paloma. I have not tried this yet, but think it would work well in a negroni-like cocktail due to the floral character that is somewhat gin-adjacent.

Smokey and packs a punch

I’m a long time mezcal enjoyer, but have been trying to cut back on my alcohol consumption. On its own, this just tastes like lightly Smokey water, but when used in a well balanced cocktail — wow!!! So nuanced. I now like it better than actual mezcal, because I find the flavor to be more complex. I really like that it both is herby/botanical and Smokey. I would recommend this to anyone who likes both gin and mezcal.

Smokey is phenomenal!

Now my go to in a great NA cocktail, especially in a Mule or Marg