mezcal

1. Any distilled spirit made in Mexico from the agave plant. Though they are often discussed as separate categories, tequila is actually a specific variety of mezcal made from blue agave (agave tequilana) in the state of Jalisco. Most mezcals are produced in the state of Oaxaca, commonly from the espadín agave varietal, and have a distinctive smoky flavor.

Mezcal is typically divided into three categories, similarly to tequila:

• mezcal joven (“young”) is not aged in oak barrels, and is clear in color
• mezcal reposado (“rested”) is aged in oak barrels for two to nine months, and is light gold in color
• mezcal añejo (“aged” or “vintage”) is aged in oak barrels for at least one year, and is copper in color