For many, mezcal is a drink shrouded in mystery. Is it tequila? Is there a worm in it? We’re here to let you know that mezcal shouldn’t just be in the shadow of tequila’s sombrero, so we’ve given you some great places to begin your mezcal journey.
What is Mezcal?
Chances are if you’ve heard of mezcal, you’ll associate it with tequila and that’s because they’re both made from agave plants. Unlike tequila which can only be made from the blue agave plant, mezcal can be produced from many different varieties. With a deep-rooted Mexican history, production methods vary widely so it really is a diverse spirit and well worth exploring.
What is the Best Mezcal Cocktail?
In Mexico, mezcal is often enjoyed neat, but since becoming increasingly popular in Europe and the U.S, it has found a home as a fantastic cocktail ingredient.
Our favourite is the Mezcal Margarita, providing a darker and smokier alternative to the tequila original. We think a subtle sweetness compliments it nicely, but the syrup is completely down to your taste. You can take it out altogether or add more in – that’s the beauty of making your own cocktail!
Ingredients
50ml mezcal
25ml lime juice
20ml triple sec
5ml syrup (agave if you have it)
Lime wedge (garnish)
Method
Take your rocks glass, run a wedge of lime around half of the rim, and dip it into salt (smoked ideally). Add your ingredients to a cocktail shaker, fill it with ice and shake until everything is chilled. Strain into the glass over ice and garnish with a lovely lime wheel. A thing of beauty!
What is the Best Mezcal to Try?
Mezcal Tasting Set
If the world of mezcal is completely new to you then you may not want to risk splashing out on a whole bottle only to find it isn’t to your taste, so how about a tasting set? This includes 5 different samples so you can experience each flavour profile and start working out what kind you like best. A warm introduction to mezcal indeed.
Size: 15cl
ABV: 42.4%
Find here: £28.95 5x15cl
Ojo de Dios Joven
Joven is a word you will see more of if you delve deeper into the world of mezcal. It is the youngest form of aging possible, so once the agave is roasted for 10 days and double distilled, it goes straight to bottling. As a result, you are hit by fresh fruit and pronounced smokiness. A perfect first mezcal.
Size: 700ml
ABV: 42%
Find here: £39
Dangerous Don Joven Mezcal Espadín
Dangerous Don might sound like someone to avoid at a bar, but the opposite can be said for this mezcal. Much like Ojo de Dios, it is produced from Espadín agave plants in the traditional artisanal fashion and is also joven. It’s super fresh and smoky from the heart of Mezcal heaven – Oaxaca!
Size: 700ml
ABV: 45%
Find here: £45
Dos Hombres Mezcal
If you’ve heard of just one mezcal then there’s a good chance it’s this one because Dos Hombres is co-founded by Breaking Bad stars Aaron Paul and Bryan Cranston. Aaron wanted Bryan to fall in love with the spirit like he had, so they went to Mexico to sniff out the best Mezcal, and this is the end result. A traditionally produced Espadín mezcal that uses no modern technology, it has been smothered with awards since it began. Another hit for these two it seems – salud to that!
Size: 700ml
ABV: 42%
Find here: £56
Annabel’s for the Amazon x The Lost Explorer Mezcal
This sweet and smoky Espadín mezcal is a limited-edition collaboration between private members club Annabel’s and high-end mezcal brand The Lost Explorer. Available in a beautiful jungle gift box, each purchase plants trees in the Amazon, and The Lost Explorer make some of the most awarded mezcals in all of Mexico, so if you want something stunning inside and out then why not treat yourself?
Size: 700ml
ABV: 42%
Find here: £120
Codigo 1530 Ancestral Mezcal
Codigo 1530 started as a private tequila stock available only to friends and family, but it was clearly too good to keep secret. Unlike most, this is an ancestral Mezcal which means certain production methods are required, such as clay-pot distillation and the inclusion of agave fibres. It uses 100% papalome agave and is produced in partnership with a small village of families who bleed mezcal. Top end but top notch.
Size: 700ml
ABV: 43.1%
Find here: £165
Clase Azul Mezcal Durango
Clase Azul’s mezcal range stands out for a few reasons. Firstly, they tend to make some of the most beautiful bottles in the drinks business and secondly, the lofty price tag. This edition uses prized Cenizo agave that grows wild in the Mexican state of Durango, where the climate is more extreme, and the soil is extremely rich in minerals. The curved bottle is colourfully topped by a pattern made by local artisans, and each batch is handmade and very small. It’s a very special drink if you want to go all out and try the most premium mezcals available. Definitely try it neat first to get the most out of it.
Size: 700ml
ABV: 44%
Find here: £375
Any of these would spark new life into all of your tequila classics, so why not try mezcal in our Best Tequila Cocktails. Or for more detail on all things mezcal from fermentation to aging, flick through our deeper mezcal guide.
Words by Calum Ecroyd
