Mescal and tequila are Mexican distillation alcoholic drinks based on agave juice. They have so much in common that they are sometimes mistaken for two names for the same type of alcohol. However, mezcal and tequila also have a number of significant differences.
Mescal and tequila owe their origin to pulque, a fermented blue agave juice that has been known in Mexico since ancient times. This drink was used by the Aztecs during meals instead of wine. The history of tequila and mezcal is associated with the conquistadors - the Spanish conquerors of Mexico. In the 16th century, they brought here the skill of distillation, which made it possible to obtain strong alcohol based on pulque. This drink is called mezcal. These names from the Aztec language can be translated as "boiled agave". Tequila began to be made later near the city of Tequila, after which it was named. Tequila and mezcal production technology is very similar. Agave is used as the main raw material - a plant that looks very similar to a cactus, but in fact belongs to the lily family. Only the heart of the fleshy stem is used for the production of alcohol. For mescal, agave cores are soared in conical stone ovens for 2-3 days. The cores are laid out on coals, covered with several layers of palm fibers and sprinkled with earth. This treatment gives the mezcal a smoky flavor. For tequila, the cores are usually steamed in autoclaves. Agave juice from the steamed heart is fermented for 3 days without added sugar. Since the 1960s, mezcal has been produced using double distillation and then diluted with water to the desired strength. The strength of mezcal, like tequila, is 40 degrees. This drink has a stronger flavor and aroma than tequila. High quality mezcal is valued on a par with tequila, but it is inferior to it in terms of the number of varieties. Tequila and mezcal are consumed in almost the same way. They don't need to be refrigerated like vodka. Mescal is often drunk with salt, and tequila is often drunk with salt and lime. Tequila is much more often used for making cocktails than mescal. Such cocktails with this drink have gained worldwide popularity: tequila Sunrise, tequila boom, margarita and sangrita.
