Mexico is home to two spirits that are well known all over the world. However, distinguishing mezcal vs tequila can be tricky sometimes – especially if you do not speak Spanish. It doesn’t take an expert to recognize the differences between them – and once you learn them, you’ll be able to spot the differences between these two delicious spirits.
Although the two drinks look similar – there are several differences between the two and understanding them will give you not only new insight but a new appreciation for both drinks. Although tequila has gained more popularity worldwide, the appeal of mezcal is now beginning to spread overseas.
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Tequila and Mezcal Both Use the Agave Plant
Mezcal is the national spirit of Mexico. It is fermented using the native agave plants of Central America and has been used for thousands of years. Tequila, too, is fermented using the agave plant – however, it is distilled in a different region of the country and exclusively uses the blue agave plant in its creation. After the agave plant is crushed, it is cooked before being distilled – although the processes are different, the common denominator between the two is the presence of the iconic agave.
Think of red wine as an example. They all use grapes in their fermenting process, but, depending on the region, a bottle of red wine can be a Merlot, Shiraz, or Rioja. It’s the same principle here in the mezcal vs tequila situation – they are both mezcals, however, not every mezcal is tequila.
Mezcal Is Distilled in Different Areas of Mexico
Mezcal, primarily, is created in the Oaxaca region of the country. Over 80% of Mexico’s mezcal comes from there but its distillation can also be found in the following areas:
- Durango
- Guererro
- San Luis Potosi
- Michoacan
- Guanajuato
- Zacatecas
- Tamaulipas
These are ‘mezcal’ areas in Mexico. Tequila, in comparison, is only produced in five areas of Mexico – Guanajuato, Michoacan, Jalisco, Nayarit, and Tamaulipas. The regional differences are one of the biggest contrasts between the two spirits – and will help you understand the nuances between mezcal vs tequila.
Mezcal and Tequila Are Distilled Differently
Both spirits fundamentally use the agave plant in its creation. The plant is crushed, cooked, and then distilled. However, tequila’s clean, sharp taste is the result of industrial ovens being used, where mezcal’s smoky flavors come from its time spent in earthy pits lined with firewood. Tequila’s construction is a bit more high tech than its mezcal counterpart – but the flavor of each spirit is unique, distinctive, and loved by millions.
Tequila’s cleaner taste is perhaps one of the reasons behind its success. It is not as aggressive as mezcal and can be used with a mixer without overpowering the drink completely. Mezcal, on the other hand, possesses a dominating flavor that is best appreciated when the drink is on its own. It is, however, seeing more and more success overseas as its ‘acquired taste’ spreads to more and more people.
Both spirits are then aged in oak barrels and are sold at different points in the aging process. Different colors of tequila simply represent a different stage in its timeline – the lighter the tequila, the less time it has spent aging. The darker the tequila, the more time it has spent aging. Mezcal also uses this process.
So there you have it! Although both spirits share similar characteristics in terms of their construction, distillation, and aging – the fundamental differences between the two spirits are highly evident. You may have your preferences, but it is irrefutable that both spirits are unique, distinctive, and simply delicious.
