Tequila is a mezcal. Tequila was originally distilled from the sap (called aquamiel, meaning honey water) and the heart (also called the pineapple) of the blue agave plant. Basically, Tequila is a type of mezcal. “Tequila” is an internationally recognized Denomination of Origin (D.O. A “mezcal” refers to any spirit distilled from agave. That agave was also turned into a brandy known in old Mexico as vino mezcal. Mezcal is a smoked alcohol derived from many cacti and famous in the state of Oaxaca, but can be grown in all of Mexico. “Smokier mezcal would pair very well with meat, barbecue, and anything smoky and spicy. Pairing Tequila and Mezcal. While mezcal can be produced from up to 50 species of the agave plant, Tequila can be made from just one: agave tequilana Weber , or Weber blue agave. The process is one that began much later than traditional mezcal – during the late 19th century, to be exact – so it stands to reason that tequila is the youngest member within the entire mezcal family. )—meaning, like champagne or burgundy can only be made in their respective regions of France, so can tequila only be made in its … What separates tequila is the agave it’s made from (weber blue or agave tequilana) as well as where and how it’s made. Here are some quick facts: Both tequila and mezcal have to be grown and produced in Mexico. Mezcal vs. Tequila: Much like Whiskey is a main category of any spirit distilled from grain, Mezcal is the main category of any spirit distilled from agave. From here, tequila is distilled 2-3 times – depending on the distillery – and then aged in oak barrels for anywhere from 2 months to over 3 years. Mezcal, on the other hand, can be produced anywhere in Mexico, although it's primarily produced in the Oaxaca region. While Soto says that both tequila and mezcal pair well with any type of Mexican food, there are other dishes in which mezcal would be the clear choice. Wall says mezcal can be made from up to 28 different varieties of agave. Premium tequila is made from 100 percent blue agave. Tequila is subject to more rigid standards than mezcal. Each stage of the aging process then warrants a … Within the category there are other agave distillates including Tequila, Mezcal (Both a category and a subcategory), Sotol which we covered a few weeks and another agave based spirit called Bacanora. And the best way for you to understand Mezcal is to compare it to Tequila.