I similarly have long disliked tequila, but just yesterday tried mezcal for the first time and was also surprised to like it! It was the smoke flavor for me too; I'm a big fan of smoke flavors. For the longest time a coffee shop in my neighborhood kept lapsang souchong on hand for me, even though I was literally the only customer who ever ordered it.

Your descriptions of the food at Waypoint are just as breathtaking as last year. I need to visit Boston just for this restaurant.