Tequila vs. Mezcal: What's the difference between these two popular Mexican spirits?

If you are among many people who may have asked a group of mates or yourself what is the common difference between Tequila and Mezcal, anyway. These two drinks are too much popular in Mexico. So what is the dissimilarity between both of them? Let’s find out what the owners of the large liquor stores in Westminster Co say about their difference.

What Is Mezcal?

Any liquor derived from agave is referred to as mezcal. Even though it seems complex, it is too much simple.

What Is Tequila?

Similarly, to bourbon, Tequila is a type of Mezcal. Tequila is made by reaping, mashing, and baking blue agave plants. Fermentation takes place after the juice is extracted from the mash. It is then distilled (legally twice) afterward fermentation. Mexico’s blue agave, or agave tequila, is vital for mezcal to be considered Tequila.

How Do Mezcal and Tequila Differ?

As mentioned, all Tequila is mezcal. There is a difference between mezcal and Tequila. Tequila and mezcal are distinguished by their agave diversity, area, and distillation method.

Agave diversity

There are more than 30 different varieties of agave used to make mezcal. Espadín is the most common type of agave. Different agaves will give the mezcal a distinct flavor, irrespective of how the spirit is produced.

Area

There are some similarities between Mezcal and Tequila as well. Mexican regions produce Tequila and mezcal differently. The most famous Tequila is produced in Jalisco, Nayarit, Tamaulipas, Guanajuato, and Michoacán. On the other hand, mezcal is produced in nine regions. Eight other regions produce it, including Oaxaca and Tamaulipas.

Refinement

Mezcal and Tequila are made from pia, which comes from agave plants. Usually, Tequila is distilled twice or three times in copper pots after being steamed in industrial ovens. Mezcal (peach brandy) is made by roasting pica in a pit. It’s this that gives mezcal its smokiness flavor. Using clay pots, mezcal is distilled from pica.