How to pour it
a mezcal in
Pour 4 cl of mezcal into a small glass at room temperature; serving it ice-cold makes the aroma flatter.
Sprinkle the salt with ground chili on a saucer next to the glass, so you can have a little with each sip.
Place the orange slice on the rim of the glass or on the same saucer.
Take small sips and let each sip linger in your mouth for a moment before swallowing.
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The story
Mezcal and tequila come from the same family, but they are made differently. Tequila may only be made from blue agave, and the hearts are steamed. Dozens of agave varieties may be used for mezcal, with espadín being the most common, as well as tobalá, tepeztate and madrecuishe. The hearts are placed in a pit in the ground, on wood and glowing stones, where they are roasted. That roasting creates the smoke you find in the glass. In a broad sense, all tequila is therefore mezcal, but not all mezcal is tequila. Oaxaca is the heart of production, and the result differs according to the agave variety and region.
The right glass
In Mexico, mezcal is often served in a copita, a shallow earthenware cup that you hold in your hand. We don't have a cup like that in our collection; the closest option is a small stemmed glass, whose narrowing bowl concentrates the aroma and whose stem keeps the warmth of your hand away from the drink. For a mezcal margarita, you need something else: a wide, shallow glass whose rim you can dip in salt. You can find these shapes among the margarita glasses.
Royal Leerdam Specials Grappa / Shot glass 9 cl (6 pieces)
Bormioli Rocco Ypsilon Margarita glass 33 cl (2 pieces)
Both sets together € 48,90.
The right tools
For mezcal, in addition to the glass, you use a jigger to measure precisely and, if you choose a mezcal margarita, a shaker. These are the bar tools we use ourselves; you can find everything in our bar tools & cocktail sets.
Glass set (our choice 01) + 2 bar tools together € 56,85.
What do you serve alongside it?
Besides mezcal itself, tequila is the drink most similar to it, made from the same agave family. Brand pages such as Casamigos Mezcal and Don Julio show what differs from bottle to bottle. On each drink page, you can read the alcohol percentage, what it tastes like, which cocktails it suits and which glass you need.
Variations & twists
A mezcal margarita is a margarita in which mezcal takes the place of tequila; the smoke then stands opposite the lime. In a mezcal negroni, mezcal replaces the gin, alongside a red bitter such as Campari and the red vermouth from Martini. Reposado and añejo have spent time in wood and turn out rounder than joven, which comes clear from the still. Want to read more? Explore all drinks and brands.
Serving tip
Place the glass on the table at room temperature, with a saucer of salt mixed with ground chili and a few orange slices beside it. Keep the pour to 4 cl, so the glass is not too full and the aroma has room to develop. Leave out the ice: it dilutes the drink and dampens the smoke.
Good to know
Is all tequila also mezcal?
In a broad sense, yes: tequila is an agave spirit and therefore falls under the same category. The reverse is not true. Tequila may only be made from blue agave and has its own rules; mezcal can be made from dozens of agave varieties.
Where does that smoke come from?
From the roasting. For mezcal, the agave hearts are placed in a pit in the ground, on wood and glowing stones, and cooked there. For tequila, the hearts are steamed, so that layer of smoke is absent.
Which agave varieties do you come across?
Espadín most often, because it matures the fastest. You’ll also see tobalá, tepeztate, and madrecuishe listed on the label. Each variety creates a different profile, and besides the smoke, that is the biggest difference between two bottles.
What do joven, reposado, and añejo mean?
Joven goes into the bottle without being aged in wood and is clear. Reposado has been aged in wood and añejo longer; they become rounder and develop color. If you drink mezcal for the smoke and agave, joven is the most direct choice.
Does the worm in the bottle say anything about the quality?
No. The caterpillar in the bottle is folklore and sometimes a sales gimmick; it has nothing to do with the quality of the mezcal. The salt with ground chili called sal de gusano is something else: it is sprinkled alongside and taken with each sip.
How much alcohol is in mezcal?
Usually around 40 percent, with bottles up to roughly 55 percent. That is potent, so the serving size stays small: 4 cl at a time in a 10 cl glass.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between mezcal and tequila?
Tequila may only be made from blue agave, and the hearts are steamed. Mezcal can be made from dozens of agave varieties, and the hearts are roasted in a pit with wood and glowing stones. That is where the smoke comes from. Broadly speaking, all tequila is mezcal, but not all mezcal is tequila.
How do you drink mezcal?
Neat, at room temperature, in small sips from a small glass. A slice of orange and a little salt with ground chili are served alongside. Leave out the ice, as it dilutes the drink and mutes the smoke.
Which glass do you use for mezcal?
In Mexico, often a copita, a shallow earthenware cup. We do not sell such a clay cup; a small stemmed glass of about 9 cl is the closest match. For a mezcal margarita, use a broad, shallow glass whose rim can be dipped in salt.
Does a worm in the bottle mean the mezcal is good?
No. The caterpillar in the bottle is folklore and says nothing about the quality. Instead, look at the agave variety on the label and whether it is joven, reposado, or añejo.
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