Mezcal (also spelt: Mescal) is often treated as ‘the poor cousin of tequila’. It’s an indigenous fiery spirit from Mexico, but the number of good things that one hears about tequila is probably similar to the number of slanderous rumours that float around about mezcal. It’s the perfect drink for the amigo mood (or Amiga, the she-amigo) since it’s not supposed to be very sophisticated or enjoy a very illustrious image.
The word Mezcal comes from Metl or Mexcalmetl, the pre-Hispanic Nahuatl language, meaning Agave. Mezcal is made from agave, which has more than 400 varieties. Agave, contrary to popular belief is not from the cactus family - it is actually from the Lily or Aloe family. Out of the 400 varieties, one happens to be the webber blue agave that makes the famous tequila, the rest help in making various types of mezcal. Technically, that makes tequila one of the types of mezcal.
In all fairness it would be right to compare the ‘tequila vs. mezcal’ predicament to that of ‘cognac vs. brandy’. Tequila is distilled at least twice in a pot still and can be made only in and around the region/town of Jalisco. On the other hand mezcal is usually only distilled once (usually continuous still) and can be made in more than one region, though its production is concentrated around the valley town of Oaxaca.
The famous rumours about mezcal didn’t start in the Aztec times (yup, it’s been known to be consumed since then!) but rather became famous due to the famed 1930’s novel by Malcolm Lowry on alcoholism called ‘Under the Volcano’. It described mezcal as capable of inducing gruesome hallucinations upon drinking, though this has never been proven. A lot of bad stuff is also said about mezcal because it is common for tourists to get fleeced in Mexico while buying a cheap bottle of mezcal, only to end up with a smelly and funny tasting drink that leaves one nasty hangover. However the most known “fact” about mezcal is the ‘Worm’. Today it’s impossible to separate mezcal from the worm image.
Mezcal and the Worm
The worm in the mezcal is said to encourage great heroism (wow, anyone who has the worm is a hero enough anyway, isn’t she ?). Mezcal de gusano (worm mezcal) is the most popular mezcal probably because it is the most commercialized. The worm is a maguey worm; it lives on the agave plant from which mezcal is made. This isn’t just a smart marketing gimmick but is supposed to actually help give the characteristic smoky flavor. Speaking of gimmicks there are even scorpion mescals which have a real scorpion in the bottle, with the stinger or the poisonous part removed, though it’s not recommended that one consumes it.
The pickled white worm in a bottle of mezcal is intended to be eaten with the last drink that’s poured. A jar of the pickled white worm (things like this actually exist) could ensure that everyone on the table gets their fair share, if they want it of course…
The only right way to drink mezcal according to any Mexican would be just knocking it back like a shot (with the worm of course)....
