Water Of LiFe, travelling in Mexico to explore more deeply the fabulous world of mezcal

For several weeks, Water Of LiFe, has been travelling in Mexico to explore more deeply the fabulous world of mezcal (cf. post “Improbable Tequila and Mezcal tasting...in Brussels“, February).

Everyone knows about tequila, whether if they like it or not, but what does its brother mezcal taste like?
Mezcal won't appeals everyone, but when somebody likes tequila, definitely should try.

The word mezcal come from the náhuatl, the azteca language, “mexcalli”, derived from “metl” which means maguey (agave plant) and “ixcalli” meaning cooked or stewed. According to archaeological studies, this distillate of agave is the oldest distilled drink of Mexico and probably of the world. It’s a new taste for most of us, that's the reason as why we have to behave with it… we have to enjoy it, sip it, not shoot it. The Scotch fans and spirits fans in general, should consider investigating mezcal.

To my opinion, Mezcals have a lot to demonstrate us before to age it thanks to the 30 types of agaves which can be use to elaborate it, the geology of the soil, the sun exposition and the climate where it is produced. Once you age it, I think we lose some of the mezcal original flavour but some of the reposado ones could make me change my mind…

Today, mezcal has a big opportunity to become as important as o more than tequila.

The mezcal producers has to carry on creating small and reduced batches to not become industrial as Tequila is and preserve what it characterize and make it so special being one of the few drinks left which can accurately be called "artisanal". Unlike most of other spirits, production of mezcal is, on the whole, a smalltime affair, mezcal is largely handcrafted. Actually, most of the mezcals exported come from Oaxaca and are elaborated with the agave called Espadín, harvested by hand.

Mezcal has become trendy, chick among the Mexican middle and high class whereas it was still considered as a low class drink few years ago. Recently (≈ 5 years), the interest for mezcal is growing up in Mexico and abroad, Mezcalerias have mushroomed across Mexico City. People begin to know how to consume it and consume it more and more. In the Condesa neighbourhood, I had the opportunity to taste two brands which called me attention: Mezcales de Leyenda and Mezcal Amores (next posts)

Having a mezcal or two, this drink is considered as magical in some regions of Mexico. It goes well paring with food, as an aperitif or digestive sharing with friends, to celebrate, it allows us to have a short travel to Mexico.

Salud!