Mezcal Cocktails
1 drinks with this bottle, from the easy ones up.
What goes with Mezcal?
Grapefruit and lime. Sharp citrus stands up to the smoke, so a mezcal Paloma or mezcal Margarita is the easy way in. Ginger beer gives you a smoky Mule, and sweet vermouth with Campari gives you a smoky Negroni. Pineapple is a sneaky good match too, since sweet fruit and smoke get along.
What does it taste like?
Smoke first, from agave hearts roasted in underground pits, then sweet agave, earth and citrus. Imagine tequila that spent the evening by a campfire.
Which bottle should I buy?
Del Maguey Vida and Montelobos are the usual mixing choices. Single-village bottles are for sipping, so don't drown those in soda.
Goes well with
A Mexican spirit made from agave, most of it from Oaxaca. It's usually around 40 to 50% ABV. A blanco tequila works in any mezcal drink, and a small splash of peaty Scotch brings back some of the smoke.
Questions
What is the difference between mezcal and tequila?
Tequila is a specific kind of mezcal, made only from blue agave in set parts of Mexico. Mezcal can use many types of agave, and it's usually roasted in underground pits, which gives it that smoke.
What do you mix mezcal with?
Grapefruit soda, lime and ginger beer are the easy winners. Sharp or spicy mixers hold their own against the smoke. You can also swap mezcal for tequila in a Margarita or Paloma.
Is there a worm in mezcal?
Only in some bottles, and tequila never has one. A few producers started adding a worm in the 1940s or 1950s, and it's often put down to marketing.
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