Recognized for its smoky and earthy taste profile, mezcal is an agave-based spirit that originated in Mexico. Whereas tequila has reigned supreme as one of the crucial common liquors for many years, mezcal turned extra widely known in america within the early 2000s, with a serious resurgence of the agave spirit occurring within the final 5 years. Due to this, many assume that tequila got here earlier than mezcal, however that couldn’t be farther from the reality.
Not all mezcals are tequila, however all tequilas are a kind of mezcal. With the intention to be categorized as tequila, the spirit should be made solely from the blue Weber agave plant from solely the 5 Mexican states of Jalisco, Michoacán, Nayarit, Tamaulipas and Guanajuato. In contrast to blue agave tequila, mezcal will be made out of any kind of agave plant, not simply the blue agave. Mezcal will be crafted in 9 totally different Mexican states, the place the agave is harvested, roasted, milled, fermented after which distilled, however Oaxaca accounts for 90 p.c of mezcal manufacturing. Whereas mezcal can definitely be used throughout a variety of cocktails, starting from negronis to margaritas, a high-quality bottle is finest sipped straight. If you happen to’re in search of a brand new mezcal (or wish to get a head begin on Nationwide Mezcal Day on October 21), add these easy and smoky mezcals to your bar cart.