Which simulator is best to use for Mixed-Signal Simulation?

For example I can have some HDL design compiled and implemented in Encounter Digital Implementation, then I can have that design imported in Virtuoso Encironment as a layout or higher level schematics symbol to be used together with another part of design which is analog.

However, which simulator is it better then to use to simulate the whole thing, by whole thing I mean my relatively big autoplaced/autorouted digital block from encounter + Hand made analog circuits?

For example if I want to just verify my analog-only blocks I'll use spectre, if I want to verify my digital logic and run timing analysis I'll use RC compiler + INCISIVE. But what about combined circuits simulation? 

Obviously, using Spectre would take like infinite time (I remember simulating relatively small hand made digital circuits together with analog blocks, it took forever).

So which simulator, or approximate design/simulation flow should I look at then?

thanks