spirit
Mezcal
Smoke, terroir, and unfiltered character
Agave roasted in earth pits and distilled in small batches. Higher congeners than tequila but typically no additives.
- Typical ABV
- 40–55%
- Base
- Various agave (espadín, tobalá, etc.)
- Distillation
- Pot still, often copper or clay, 2x
Category hangover index
5/10
Moderate
Chemistry profile
- Congeners
- Moderate
- Histamines
- Low
- Polyphenols
- Low
- Sulfites
- Very Low
- Tannins
- Low
- Sugar
- Very Low
- Additives
- Very Low
Mezcal is to tequila what single-malt Scotch is to vodka: more soul, more chemistry, more to clear from your body. The roasted agave hearts give it phenolic smoke, and pot distillation keeps congeners in.
What changes the chemistry
- ▸Earth-pit roasting introduces methanol and smoke phenols
- ▸Wild-harvest vs cultivated agave
- ▸Single distillation styles retain more congeners
- ▸No additives allowed under DO Mezcal
Common allergens: agavewood smoke compounds
See the healthiest mezcal ranked
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