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What is the difference between tequila and mezcal?
Tequila is typically produced by steaming the agave inside industrial ovens before being distilled two or three times in copper pots. Mezcal, on the other hand, is cooked inside earthen pits that are lined with lava rocks and filled with wood and charcoal before being distilled in clay pots.
Is mezcal stronger than tequila?
Many people find that the taste of mezcal is usually stronger than that of tequila, but that’s another matter. If you order a mezcal or a tequila in a bar, either neat or on the rocks, chances are you’ll get a spirit that’s about 40% ABV, which is the same strength as the vast majority of spirits sold around the world.
What does mezcal taste like?
Some bartenders feel the descriptor undercuts the spirit: Mezcal can taste a little charred because of the way it’s produced, but you might also try some with floral, fruity, or earthy notes. A lot of it comes down to the specific agave plant—where it is, what variety it is, and when and how it was harvested.
What’s the difference between mezcal and tequila worm?
So tequila is a type of mezcal, but mezcal is not tequila, and only mezcal has worms. According to Anthony Dias Blue’s Complete Book of Spirits, that “worm” is actually a larva from one of two types of moths, known as maguey worms, that live on the agave plant.
Why is mezcal so expensive?
Mezcal, which differs from tequila in the production process and the agave used to make it, tends to be a spendy spirit, often out-pricing even top-shelf tequilas (via Thrillist). This price tag comes from the fact that the agave plants used to make mezcal can take extremely long periods of time to reach their peak.
Can you drink mezcal straight?
The best way to drink mezcal straight is without ice. Serving mezcal straight at room temperature is the best way to experience its colorful flavors and aromas. Take a sip and swish it around in your mouth. This will open your palate and allow your taste buds to adjust to the initial burning sensation.
Why do they put a worm in mezcal?
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.
Does mezcal taste like tequila?
Mezcal traditionally has a very unique, smoky flavor that makes it fairly easy to distinguish from tequila. It also tends to taste sweeter, or richer, than tequila. Some mezcal producers have adopted production processes similar to tequila, and the resulting mezcal has flavor profile similar to tequila.
Which is more expensive mezcal or tequila?
Compared to tequila, mezcal can be significantly more expensive, and without much background on the process, it can be hard to understand why. Many different species of agave can be used for mezcal production, unlike tequila, which uses only one (blue weber).
Does mezcal get you high?
Mezcal can give you a euphoric and energized feeling. Some sources point to its mild hallucinogenic properties as a primary cause for this elation.
How long does mezcal last once opened?
The answer to that question is a matter of quality, not safety, assuming proper storage conditions – when properly stored, a bottle of mezcal has an indefinite shelf life, even after it has been opened.
Does mezcal worm get you drunk?
Does the tequila worm get you drunk? No, although it’s soaked and pickled in mezcal, there isn’t enough booze on the warm itself to get you drunk. The shots you take to build yourself up to eating it however, might just do the job.
Mezcal is defined as “a distilled alcoholic spirit made from any type of agave.” Mezcal is the general, and tequila would then be the specific. The difference is that mezcal can be made from any type of agave, whereas tequila is only made from the blue agave plant.
How do you make mezcal?
Making a Mezcal Margarita Combine 2 fl oz (59 mL) of mezcal in a cocktail shaker filled with ice. The stainless steel cocktail shaker should be filled ½ to ¾ of the way full with ice. Add the lime juice and agave syrup to the shaker . Put 1 fl oz (30 mL) of lime juice and 1⁄ 2 fl oz (15 mL) of agave syrup into the shaker with the mezcal.
What does Mescal mean?
Definition of mescal. 1 : peyote sense 2. 2a : a usually colorless Mexican liquor made by distilling the fermented mash obtained following roasting of the thick central part of various agaves. b : an agave which mescal is produced : maguey.
Is tequila and mezcal the same?
Mezcal and tequila are not the same. Mezcal and tequila are often confused for one another, as they’re both Mexican spirits made from similar ingredients. Tequila is a type of mezcal, but mezcal is not always tequila. Although both spirits are made from agave, they differ in flavor, production methods, and origination.