![]() ![]() ![]() Unlike the wider mezcal category, which encompasses spirits made from upwards of 30 different types of agave, tequila can be made only with blue agave in just five Mexican states. Mezcal is an agave-based spirit, and tequila, in fact, is a type of mezcal. But if you’re a fan of fruity tobala agave, try Del Maguey Tobala instead ( view at ).įAQs What's the difference between mezcal & tequila? If you’re a fan of assertive, smoky espadín-based mezcals, go for Gracias a Dios ( view at Drizly). Here are the best mezcals available to get right now. ![]() In the below list, we've taken out a lot of the guesswork involved and selected the Oaxacan Rey Compero Tepextate as our overall favorite. She suggests visiting a mezcal bar and sampling different one-ounce pours to figure out what you like before buying a bottle. Yet, because mezcal production is high-cost-“Agave takes eight to 30 years to mature, and there’s no machine that harvests them, so it’s all manpower,” says Mix-bottles can be pricey. Trying mezcal should be a journey through flavors of flowers, fruits, vegetables, herbs, earth, cheese, or even sour notes until you find the perfect one for you. “Not all varieties taste the same, and not every batch tastes the same. “There are many factors that go into a mezcal’s flavor profile, such as terroir, agave species, and how the mezcalero chooses to cook, ferment, and distill the plants,” says bar consultant Deena Sayers of Drinks By Deena. “It’s like not all scotch is peaty Laphroig.” “But that’s just one of many different types of mezcal,” says Mix. Most Americans know the mezcal of Oaxaca, where Espadín agave is roasted in a hole in the ground to prepare it for distilling, resulting in a smoky spirit. Mezcal is made from an array of different agaves in 13 different Mexican states. In Mexico the drink is enjoyed neat, though there are many cocktails to which it is suited.“At its most basic, mezcal is an agave distillate,” explains Ivy Mix, co-owner of Brooklyn’s Leyenda and author of Spirits of Latin America, “But it is not just smoky tequila.” Tequila is technically a mezcal, but it is only produced in Jalisco and three surrounding states using at least 51 percent blue agave. Typically the Mezcal will be drunk, and the left over worm will be eaten. Mezcal will rarely feature a small larva/worm in the bottle (the bottles will be labelled "con gusano" - "with worm"), which is most likely a marketing ploy invented in the mid 20th Century. They are then crushed, mashed and fermented prior to at least two distillations. These are then cooked, sometimes in open pits in the ground lined with rocks, then agave, and then earth, which can impart a distinctive smokiness. First, the maguey plants are harvested, and the hearts (or "piñas") are extracted. Mezcal is also produced on a much smaller scale. Mezcal is quite similar to Tequila in many respects, though they are made from different varieties of agave. Mezcal is mostly made in the region of Oaxaca, where there is a saying, "for everything bad, mezcal, and for everything good, too." Mezcal is usually consumed neat, and it can boast a marvellous variety of flavours, from floral and herbaceous, to rich and smoky, and beyond. ![]() Mezcal is an important part of Mexican culture and heritage. Mezcal was later revived in the mid-19th century, and today it is enjoyed by people all over the world. Mezcal fell out of favour after the Mexican War of Independence in 1810, when the new Mexican government banned the production and consumption of alcohol. Mezcal was first mentioned in Spanish records in 1542, and by the early 1600s mezcal was being exported from Mexico to Europe. Mezcal has a long history in Mexico, dating back to the Aztec people. Mezcal can be enjoyed neat or used in cocktails. Mezcal is typically clear or straw-coloured, with a smoky flavour. The agave plant is roasted in an underground pit oven, then crushed and fermented with yeast and water. Mezcal is traditionally made in small batches by farmers using traditional methods passed down through generations. Mezcal is a distilled alcoholic beverage made from the agave plant (also known as the maguey plant), native to Mexico. ![]()
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