What Am I?
Often described as the mysterious, smoky cousin of tequila
What is Mezcal?
While Jalisco is known for tequila, this Mexican state is synonymous with mezcal
What is Oaxaca?
Mezcal means "cooked agave" in this Aztecan language
What is Nahuatl?
This American is often called the "godfather of mezcal" for his role in popularizing it.
Who is Ron Cooper?
The minimum number of times mezcal must be distilled by law
What is twice?
A shallow, bowl-shaped cup, traditionally made from a dried calabash gourd, and perfect for sipping mezcal
What is a jicara?
Unlike my cousin, I get my smoky flavor from being roasted in an underground pit before fermentation
What is Mezcal?
Shamans in the Zapotec and Mixe regions use mezcal to travel and __
What is "think"?
This saying, often heard from bartenders, is the recommended way to enjoy mezcal
What is "Sip it, don't shoot it"?
The range of years an agave plant can take to reach maturity before it's ready for mezcal production
What is 5 to 35 years?
The heart of the agave plant, also known as "maguey" in Spanish, and essential for making mezcal
What is a piña?
This specific agave species is the only one legally allowed for tequila production
What is Blue Weber Agave?
Every bottle of legally produced mezcal should proudly display this official number
What is a Norma Oficial Mexicana (or NOM)?
While once considered a sign of high proof, placing this creature in a mezcal bottle is now just a gimmick
What is a worm?
"Mezcal tastes like _____" is a poetic way to describe the influence of the agave's maturation on its flavor
What is "time"?
The legal name for one type of mezcal, but usually steamed in ovens rather than roasted underground
What is Tequila?
The number of the only Mexican states you can make mezcal in
What is nine?
This French term describes how environmental factors impart unique characteristics and flavors to the final beverage, like mezcal
What is Terroir?
Despite what some classifications suggest, 95% of mezcal is released in this "unaged" state because it's considered more expressive
What is "joven"?
This form of IP protection dictates where tequila can be made, preventing it from being produced just anywhere
What is an Appellation of Origin?
A large stone wheel, typically pulled by a mule, used to crush agave hearts
What is a tahona?
The approximate number of different agave species that can be used to produce mezcal
What is 50?
The alcohol content of traditional mezcal should typically land around this percentage
What is 45%?
Some scientists date the first distillation of mezcal back to these ancient times
What are Mesoamerican times?
For mezcal to be truly traditional, it must be made from 100% of this plant
What is agave?