Is there a difference between tequila and mezcal?
In summary: Mezcal is a distilled spirit made from any variety of agave plant. Cooking the agave in pits in the ground gives it a strong smoky flavor. Tequila is a distilled spirit made only from the blue agave plant. It has an agave-forward flavor and has smoother, richer flavor when aged (labeled resposado or añejo).
What is the taste difference between tequila and mezcal?
On the most basic level, tequila tends to have a smooth, sweet flavor, whereas mezcal is often described as savory and smoky. The smoky quality is usually attributed to the underground ovens used to cook the agave.
Which is better tequila or mezcal?
So, is mezcal stronger than tequila? No, not necessarily. Many people find that the taste of mezcal is usually stronger than that of tequila, but that’s another matter. Tequila and mezcal are both in the range of about 38% to 55% ABV (Alcohol by Volume), which is 76-110 proof.
Is mezcal just fancy tequila?
So is Mezcal just fancy Tequila? While tequila could be considered mezcal, mezcal can never be considered tequila. It’s true that both are made from the piña of the agave plant, but tequila is made from blue agave specifically. The process in which tequila and mezcal are made, are also different.
Which is healthier mezcal or tequila?
Mezcal can be considered cleaner and more pure than tequila, especially if the later is mixed with artificial sugar and way to many margarita mixers. When it comes to health, wellness, and alcohol, consider balance and sip in moderation – mezcal included.
Why is there a scorpion in my mezcal?
“They’re very popular. We normally sell about 200 scorpions a week or even 250 in a good week,” dehe said. “The sugars in the mezcal keep the scorpions fresh and prevent them from biodegrading, so you won’t get sick from eating them.” Many people know about us because of the scorpions.
What is a good brand of mezcal?
Best Overall: Alipús San Luis Del Río.
Can you refrigerate mezcal?
Mezcal is best sipped at room temperature. Like most American whiskeys (especially bourbon), mezcal contains a lot of natural congeners. So never keep your mezcal in the freezer or fridge, and leave the ice behind unless you’re using mezcal in a cocktail.
Why is the worm in Mezcal tequila?
So, why is there a worm in mezcal? Larvae began appearing in mezcal bottles in the 1950s, when a mezcal maker discovered a moth larvae in a batch of his liquor and thought the stowaway improved its taste. He started adding “worms” to all his bottles as a marketing strategy.
Do you refrigerate mezcal?
Do you sip or shot mezcal?
So neat it is. But whatever you do, “don’t shoot it,” says Marco Ochoa, the owner of Mezcaloteca, one of Oaxaca City’s most revered mezcal bars. Instead, he recommends breathing in the aroma, just as you would with a glass of wine, before taking a small sip and swishing the liquid around in your mouth.