For the uninitiated, mezcal is not tequila though they are similar. They are both distilled from agave plants and labeled based on age: joven (blanco for tequila), or young = unaged; reposado, meaning rested = barrel aged for two months but less than a year; and anejo, or old, which does more than one year in the barrel. Tequila can only be made in and around Jalisco from blue agave. While most mezcal is produced in Oaxaca, it can be made in 10 states from any kind of agave and called mezcal, though most expressions are crafted using Espadin. Some mezcal has an earthy, smokiness that makes it seem like a campfire roasted cousin of tequila; others are more floral. Thanks to the mezcal moment 10 years ago coupled with the shifting tastes of consumers, we now have a staggering number of options when it comes to the spirit on liquor store shelves. Whether mixed into a cocktail or sipped neat, Mezcal is an excellent drink to have on hand. Here are eight bottles to try.
