Tequila is a type of drink normally served in shot glasses because Mexicans enjoy them straight or in shots to enjoy its full taste and strength. Serve in an old-fashioned glass with an orange peel garnish to keep it elegant. Our top pick is the Del Maguey Vida Mezcal (view at Drizly) because of its versatile nature. For mezcal, the traditional cooking process occurs in large underground pits lined with volcanic rock. A blend of agaves is mixed for this alcoholic beverage. If you order a mezcal or tequila neat or on the rocks at a bar, you're likely to get a spirit with an ABV of around 40%; this is the same as the vast majority of spirits sold across the world. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); GIPHY App Key not set. Shake the drink on the rocks, add ice to the frozen cocktail, or straight up. In 2017, approximately 3 million liters of mezcal were exported to 60 different countries. It just has a reputation as one of the stronger spirits. Herein, Is mezcal stronger than tequila? Mezcal and tequila bottles usually have the same alcohol content or ABV percentage printed on their labels. A new TikTok trend is sweeping college campuses across America and its certainly turning heads. This leaves a more concentrated spirit with a stronger flavor compared to tequilas. A cocktail with tequila, triple sec, and lime juice in it is commonly served with salt on the rim. This typically leads most people to believe that mezcal is stronger than tequila. These mezcals are typically more expensive and have a more intense flavor than those that are only distilled once. The U.S. government defines vodka as "neutral. Mezcal has been around for more than 400 years, and is the first known distilled spirit in Latin America and on the Americas Continent. Serve with or without ice in old-fashioned double glass or a bucket glass. If you're looking to impress someone at the bar, memorize these facts: 1. However, that's not necessarily correct. Is mezcal more popular than tequila? - Newcom698 An excellent mezcal isn't meant to be consumed in a single sip. There are at least 200 species of agave (maguey) but less than 50 are actually used in mezcal production. (2023), Casamigos Anejo Tequila Bottle Review (2023 Edition), 22 Most Popular Tequila Brands (2023 Edition), Angels Envy Bourbon Bottle Review (2023 Edition), https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsufs.2022.832532/full, https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/agricultural-and-biological-sciences/mezcal. Password* Toon Hide Youll find it featured in trendy, innovative recipes, as well as in remixed versions of classics like old fashioned, margaritas, negronis, and palomas. Mezcal is made in a variety of ways, but the most common method is to roast the agave plant in a pit oven. It used to be a sort of outlawed spirit, much like moonshine in the American south. Greengos Cantina' website is all about Mexican cuisine. If you want a trademark cocktail that's simultaneously sweet, tangy, salty, and smoky, then the Mezcal, Toro Bravo in Portland, Oregon, serves a mezcal-based cocktail that hits all the right notes: spicy, sour, and sweet, with just a trace of salt. Answered (2023 Updated), Which Country Consumes The Most Whiskey Overall? Mezcal is a unique spirit that has been enjoyed for generations in Mexico. This spirit is from agave tequilana weber, mixed with botanicals, additives, and water. Mezcal is a distilled spirit made from cooked and fermented agave plants. Tequila is more expensive than vodka. No, not necessarily. IZO is made with only wild agave, which tends to have a much stronger flavor. fresh from the bottle at ambient temperature. Mezcal, on the other hand, is earthy and smokey in flavor because of the roasted Agave fruit. Delish editors handpick every product we feature. Given the diverse nature of mezcal, no two bottles are the same. They're made from different varieties of agave. Good Ol' Sailor. The Difference Between Mezcal and Tequila Explained - The Mixer Your email address will not be published. It may be served with a pinch of chili salt and a slice of orange on the side to complement and enhance its natural flavor. Tequila is made specifically from the Blue Weber variety of agave plant. While it is a flexible element in a cocktail, it is recommended to test mezcal on its own before making a drink with it. The Incas used the juices of the maguey plant, a relative of the agave, to manufacture an undistilled alcoholic beverage called pulque, which dates back to roughly the year 250 CE. But she also likes to get a bit fancy every now and then. Ted's Bio; Fact Sheet; Hoja Informativa Del Ted Fund; Ted Fund Board 2021-22; 2021 Ted Fund Donors; Ted Fund Donors Over the Years. Agaves for mezcal production are harvested and processed from nine Mexican States: Oaxaca is in Central Mexico and produces most of the agaves used for mezcal production. Truly says this iterationwhich is over 50-percent stronger than the usual 5 percent ABV Trulywas tested last year and "received overwhelmingly positive drinker feedback," leading to today's . Whether you consider yourself a connoisseur of Mexican spirits or just enjoy an occasional cocktail, youll likely agree that the most obvious difference between tequila and mezcal is the flavor. Tequila, on the other hand, has an alcohol content of 35-40% ABV. The Differences Between Vodka and Gin, Explained | Gin Vs. Vodka - VinePair Tequila is made from the blue agave plant and vodka is made from a starch or sugar rich plant. Mezcal comes in varying colors that alter the flavor, similar to pale and dark rums. Required fields are marked *. If you want a trademark cocktail that's simultaneously sweet, tangy, salty, and smoky, then the Mezcal Paloma is the drink for you. Some brands also make it from other . What Is Mezcal? Everything You Need To Know About This Spirit Think of it this way mezcal is the overarching term for . Devil Springs Vodka. It is herbaceous and has cedar-like aromatics giving it an earthy finish. A shot of tequila contains fewer calories than a shot of mezcal. While the regular mule is delicious, this variation is much better since the mezcal adds a degree of depth that the ordinary vodka base lacks. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Mezcal can be made from any type of agave plant, although the large majority of mezcal 80 to 90% is made from the Espadin . Dos Hombres Mezcal Review & Guide (2023 Updated) The second thing to consider is that tequila is typically distilled longer than mezcal, which gives it a higher alcohol content and thus, more calories. What is stronger mezcal or tequila? - Neoquestions.org It just has a reputation as one of the stronger spirits. . The lime is refreshing but not bitter; the sweetness has softness and body (likely owing to use of agave as the sweetener instead of more simple sugar forms). Tequila and mezcal are both in the range of about 38% to 55% ABV (Alcohol by Volume), which is 76-110 proof. But is tequila a depressant or a stimulant? Overall, tequila is sweeter, smoother, fruitier, and more complex and toasty from its oak aging. What is the difference between tequila and mezcal? Traditionally, mezcal is consumed straight with chili salt and an orange slice. At 42 percent ABV and consistently under $50, the Ensemble expression is made from 90 percent Espadn and 10 percent Barril agave. The flavor differences in mezcal vs. tequila come down to the agave type and the location and climate of where it came, the cooking and distillation process used, and whether the spirit was aged. Perfect for your martinis or even on the rock Both of thee drinks are pretty strong, with at least 40% ABV, but mezcal has a stronger concentration of alcohol. Vodka: A Good Substitute For Everclear - BlackTailNYC.com Many people find that the taste of mezcal is usually stronger than that of tequila, but that's another matter. Is Mezcal Stronger Than Tequila? Solved (2023 Updated) MyBartender Cooking and Distillation Process - It's a Tie! Its traditionally consumed on its own, but its also making a name for itself in the world of craft cocktails. It's great for both sipping and mixing, and we love the brand's dedication to preserving the culture and heritage of Mezcal. The brand focuses on providing quality mezcal while staying as sustainable as possible. Mezcal is a type of distilled alcoholic beverage made from the cooked and fermented hearts, or pias, of agave plants (2). The taste of it may be strongerit's more assertive in some ways than tequila, because it tends to be smokierbut in terms of the alcohol by volume (ABV), there's no real discrepancy between mezcal and tequila, or mezcal and most other distilled spirits. No additives are added, not even sugar. The answer is Mezcal. The history of the Mezcal drink is still unknown, despite being one of the most popular drinks in recent times. The types of agave plants used to make mezcal take a long time to reach maturity; anywhere from seven to 35 years, depending on the type of plant. For sipping, I can't recommend5 Sentidos Papalometlenough, says mezcal ambassador and consultant Carmen Lopez Torres, a food chemist who founded her own mezcal brand in Zacatecas, Mexico. "Made from Tepeztate and Tobal agaves, this is an excellent firsthand taste of the high Oaxacan Sierra as these wild agave plants are very closely tied to their terroir," he notes. is mezcal stronger than vodka - ashleylaurenfoley.com Mezcal sales doubled in the first half of the 2010s. Half of this quantity went to the United States (1). Distillers began inserting a worm, known as a gusano, at the bottom of the mezcal bottle in the mid-twentieth century, which became a well-known curiosity across the globe. Mezcal vs Tequila: A Breakdown! - A Couple Cooks There are many great tequilas on the market and it can be hard to choose just one. Both spirits utilize a basic method of cooking, fermenting, and distilling agave hearts, but the similarities end there. A lot of it comes down to the specific agavewhere it is, what variety it is, and when and how it was harvested. There is typically a stronger flavor to tequila than mezcal. (Or go to a mezcal bar, and have someone do it for you.). It is also called little water because of its appearance. As a representation of its region (Ejutla, Oaxaca), it is a light-bodied and highly-nuanced mezcal offering tropical notes such as banana and pineapple alongside sultry smoke. Thus, the products are unique, depending on where theyre from. Modern craft cocktail culture utilizes this drink in a variety of classic and new recipes. 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. Reposado or rested is aged between two months to a year, aejo aged between one to two years, and the Extra Aejo Tequila, aged three years or more. The Liquor Laboratory is intended for adults over the age of 21 and the legal drinking age. There are several ways to interpret "stronger" in spirits. If you're not sure where to start exploring this fantastic drink, don't worry, we have you covered. Tequila, on the other hand, has four types. Tobal is referred to as "the king of mezcals" because the agave plant is more scarce and harder to harvest. One of the main factors that determines the strength of a spirit is the alcohol by . A Moscow mule has all the ingredients for a straightforward and spirited mezcal cocktail. Many people find that the taste of mezcal is usually stronger than that of tequila, but that's another matter. Mezcal can give you the euphoric and energized feeling the same way that stimulants do. While it is a flexible element in a cocktail, it is recommended to test mezcal on its own before making a drink with it. Absolut Vodka ELYX 42,3% Vol. 1l- Malva Should you go with the classic. 2. Mezcalito in San Francisco has more than 100 different bottles, which you can taste on their own in a flight or in a handful of cocktails. This mezcal is made with maguey Tobala, which is a type of agave, and the flavor profile is sweet with fruity notes. Finally, mezcal is best enjoyed with food. Forgot your password? Mezcal is pure 100% maguey, which explains the concentrated liquid. Tequila is a type of mezcal, but not all mezcals are tequila.