What is Mezcal?
Mezcal is a distilled alcohol derived from the heart of the agave plant, otherwise known as the piña. The piña, which takes anywhere from 7-30 years to fully develop, is harvested from the agave plant and then cooked in a fire pit for several days to several weeks. The pulpy, cooked hearts are then smashed and the remains, along with the juices from the piña, are added to water and yeast and then fermented anywhere between one month and 12 years. The cooking of the piña is what gives Mezcal it’s signature robust, smoky flavor.
Much like wine, Mezcal’s taste can vary greatly depending on where the agave was grown, what the weather was like as it grew, and how the Mezcal is distilled. Although often compared to tequila, Mezcal stands a world apart. Mezcal is meant to be sipped and savored, not shot and forgotten.