Mezcal
Mezcal is a category of spirits on the rise, with more distillers in Mexico turning to mezcal, and more mezcal being exported than ever before – though it is still dwarfed by sales of tequila. Mezcal is a spirit that can be distilled from any agave plant. This is why all tequila is also technically a type of mezcal, as it is made from the blue agave. However, mezcal today commonly means a spirit made from any agave except for the blue agave, which is reserved for tequila. In practice, only about 50 or 60 of the 300 species of agave in existence are suitable for spirits, but it’s the method preparation – which involves roasting the agave pinas over an open fire – that makes mezcal much smokier than tequila, both on both nose and palate. It’s not unlike a whisky from Islay in Scotland. Most mezcal comes from the state of Oaxaca, though it can also be made in several other smaller regions of Mexico. Joven (young) mezcal is the most common; it is unaged and bottled immediately after the legally required two distillations. Reposado is aged for at least two months in holm oak or white oak barrels, while añejo or añejado is aged for at least twelve months in holm or white oak barrels. Mezcal can be bottled at anything from 72 to 110 proof. The best will be labelled as 100% agave; those that contain up to 20% non-agave spirits are known as a mixto.
Top Mezcal Posts:
A Field Guide to the Agave Used For Mezcal
Del Maguey Iberico Mezcal
Ilegal Mezcal
Last time we checked in with Montelobos, the company’s offerings centered around two hallmark expressions, namely their tobala and espadin. In the past year, the Campari-owned brand has expanded with two more (and quite different) expressions: an ensamble and pechuga. The ensamble blend originates in Puebla and is primarily made using papalote agave and “complemented…
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Celebrity spirits don’t get much cooler than last year’s launch of Dos Hombres, which was a collaboration between Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul, stars of one of the coolest TV shows ever, Breaking Bad. Adding to the street cred, it wasn’t a boring tequila or a whiskey but a mezcal, which is arguably the coolest spirits category…
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Bosscal is a new mezcal made in the Mexican state of Durango. Three varieties are on available; we received two of them. Details on each product can be found below in their particular writeups. Thoughts follow. NOM D248G. Bosscal Mezcal Joven – Unaged distillate of an unstated agave variety (or varieties). Agave is ground by…
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Xicala Mezcal has been on the market for some time, but it’s recently expanded its line beyond a joven, adding a reposado and anejo to its repertoire. All three are made with traditional methods at Tlacolula Distillery in Oaxaca from 100% espadin agave, but the barrel regimen on the two aged mezcals is where things…
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The George Strait-owned Tequila Codigo is back with two new expressions, a “rosa” reposado rested for 3 months in uncharred Napa Valley Cabernet French White Oak wine barrels (then finished in sherry casks), and a mezcal. Let’s give them both a try. Tequila Codigo 1530 Rosa Reposado George Strait Edition – The light pink color…
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The Producer is a new mezcal producer that has arrived with two bottlings, each made with different types of agave (one a blend, on a pure Tepeztate offering). Hailing from Oaxaca, Mexico, The Producer seeks to present a mezcal that speaks to patience, passion, and an appreciation for refinement. In conjunction with the launch, the…
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Recently Robert took a look at the mezcal made by Gracias a Dios, Spanish for “Thank God.” Unusually, the distillery also makes additional white spirits, including a mezcal-based gin that was developed by students at Oaxaca State University. The espadín agave mezcal is infused with 32 different botanicals and spices, some of which are indigenous…
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Over the last few years, a number of new mezcals have come to the USA in response to exploding interest in the smoky agave distillate. Gracias a Dios, Spanish for “Thank God,” is a joven (unaged) mezcal made by Oscar Hernández. It is made with 100% espadín agave grown in Matatlán, Oaxaca. It deserves note…
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Ron Cooper founded Del Maguey (pro tip: “del ma-gay”) in 1995, created the category of artisanal mezcal in the U.S. singlehandedly. The brand has gone nowhere but up since, thanks certainly due to the way it works. Rather than being a bulk product, Miller works with 12 different families in 10 villages in Oaxaca (and…
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The range of mezcals available in the U.S. is growing and the ones we are trying today represent a fantastic new range of offerings. The Mal de Amor distillery is owned and run by the Hernandez family and is located in Santiago Matatlán, Oaxaca, Mexico. All of the mezcals we are trying are joven, which…
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