Mezcal vs Tequila: What are Some Major Differences?

Most people don’t seem to know the difference between mezcal and tequila. The two spirits are both Mexican products and are distilled from agave. They are usually used interchangeably in common cocktails like Palomas and margarita. But there are also other major differences that people might not be aware of, like how they are made, how they taste, and where they are produced.

It is important to understand that both tequila and mezcal are agave-based spirits. What sets them apart are the different flavor profiles as well as their methods of manufacture. Technically speaking, tequila is a type of mezcal just the same manner in which bourbon is a type of whisky.

Mezcal is basically a liquor manufactured from agave plants found in some parts of Mexican states. On the other hand, tequila is mainly produced from blue agave and mainly originates from a couple of Mexican municipalities.

6 Major Differences between Mezcal and Tequila

1. The Places of Production Are Different

One major difference between mezcal and tequila is where they are produced. Although both of them are manufactured in Mexico, the regions where each one of them is produced are different. A huge amount of tequila originates from Jalisco.

Tequila can also be manufactured in other parts of Mexico such as Michoacán, Guanajuato, Tamaulipas and Nayarit. While mezcal can be manufactured in Jalisco, it is commonly produced in Oaxaca, Michoacán, Durango, Zacatecas, Tamaulipas, Puebla and San Luis Potosi.

2. They Use a Wide Range of Agave

Although both mezcal and tequila are made from the heart of pineapple, tequila is made purely from blue weber agave. On the other hand, mezcal can be produced from a dozen of agave varieties such as blue weber and many others. This is something that many people don’t understand about these two drinks. The difference might appear small but the techniques used in the production stage are what distinguishes mezcal from tequila.

3. Flavor Profiles Are not the Similar

The differences in agave used in the distillation process and cooking all lead up to different profiles between mezcal and tequila. Generally, tequila appears to be sweet, fruity, complex, and slightly toasty from oak aging.

Conversely, mezcal appears to be smoky, savory, and earthly compared to tequila. It also has a little bit of funky flavor with floral, vegetal, and tropical notes. The flavor of the two spirits may also be dictated by the duration in which they were distilled.

4. The Agave is Cooked Differently

Despite the fact that both mezcal and tequila are products of the agave plant, their production methods vary. Agave requires to be cooked so as to generate fermentable sugars required to make alcohol. The way this is achieved is different for mezcal and tequila.

In the case of tequila, the agave is steamed in ovens above the ground. But for mezcal, agave is roasted in earthen pits along lava rocks. The variation in the way the agave is cooked leads to different flavors between the tequila and mezcal.

5. They Are Labelled Differently

Mezcal and tequila have different systems of classification and labeling. After the distillation process is complete, both mezcal and tequila are put inside barrels. Nonetheless, the different aging classification of the two spirits is labeled differently.

For instance, tequila comes in three different forms namely; reposado, Anejo, and Blanco. Mezcal is also classified into three varieties that include reposado, Joven, and Anejo. These labels are meant to distinguish the two spirits in terms of their age and flavors. The labeling might also be influenced by the region in which the spirit is produced.

6. Tequila is Mezcal But not all Mezcal is Tequila

While all tequila is mezcal, not all mezcal is tequila. Tequila is a type of mezcal produced from a specific variety of agave. The agave is cooked or distilled as per certain processes in the Mexican state of Jalisco.

Mezcal is a liquor originating from the agave plant. The procedure for making mezcal normally involves smoking the agave hearts – leaving the liquor with smoky tones. Tequila on the other hand is a type of mezcal produced only from the blue agave plant. The plant is usually baked or steamed before fermentation to produce tequila. That’s why tequila lacks a smoky flavor.