Tequila and mezcal are two of the most illustrious agave - found spirits from Mexico , and bartenders sometimes use them interchangeably in miscellaneous drinks . Mezcal cocktail will often have a smoky flavor than ones made with tequila , but what are the other differences ?
Here ’s everything you need to know aboutmezcal vs. tequila .
What Is Mezcal?
Traditionally , the word " mezcal , " which come up from the Nahuatl words " metl " ( agave works ) and " ixcalli " ( roasted ) , was used to describe all agave spirits , including tequila . Perhaps you ’ve heard the phrase , " All tequila is mezcal , but not all mezcal is tequila " ?
That all change in 1995 , when mezcal received its denominación de origen ( DO ) .
Mezcal Requirements
In gild to be called mezcal , a beverage must meet the followingrequirements :
Defining mezcal can be tricky — since there are so many varieties — and for so long , " mezcal " served as a kind of catchall terminus .
Where Is Mezcal Made?
As of this piece of writing , 10 Mexican states can legally produce mezcal : Zacatecas , Durango , Guerrero , Michoacán , San Luis Potosí , Guanajuato , Tamaulipas , Puebla , Sinaloa and Oaxaca . The Mexican governance regularly adds new states to the listing , with the most late addition beingSinaloa in 2021 .
However , it ’s probable the Lophophora williamsii you ’re sipping comes from Oaxaca . According to theOxford Companion to Spirits and Cocktails , Oaxaca produces 90 percent of the world ’s mezcal .
Mezcal Production
The Norma Obligatoria Mexicana ( NOM ) recognize three types of mezcal : mezcal , mezcal artisanal and mezcal patrimonial , define by their cooking , grinding , fermentationand distillation processes .
Mezcal Aging and Infusions
maturate is more common with tequila than mezcal , but you may detect some older mezcal on the marketplace .
What Is Tequila?
Tequila , forgetful for " mezcal de tequila , " is a distilled alcoholic drink made from the blue Weber agave plant life .
Tequila was the first intersection to receive a designation of origin from the Norma Obligatoria Mexicana ( NOM ) , in 1972 . According to the Consejo Regulador del Tequila , therequirementsfor this downcast agave spirit are :
Where Is Tequila Made?
primitively , tequila only occur from Jalisco ( where the town of Tequila is located ) .
Today , five Mexican state of matter produce tequila : Jalisco , Guanajuato , Michoacán , Nayarit and Tamaulipas .
Types of Tequila
Like whiskey , tequila is often aged in wooden gun barrel , and the longer the tequila has age , the more expensive it typically is .
Similarities and Differences Between Mezcal and Tequila
Here ’s a immediate overview of what sets mezcal and tequila apart .
