El Espolòn Blanco

Tequila vs Mezcal: What’s the difference?

Tequila vs Mezcal: What’s the difference? The three drinkers

Celebrity brands, the dominant Margarita and the fastest-growing spirit in the world… it’s fair to say that tequila is on the rise, and it’s bringing mezcal along with it. As more and more drinkers discover tequila works as a premium sipper and not just a throat-burning shot, the word ‘mezcal’ is popping up more and more.

It’s still a mystery to some however, so today we’re answering all those questions you have about these two drinks. Are they the same thing? Is tequila a mezcal? Is mezcal a tequila? Which is better? Is there really a worm involved? Vamos!

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TEQUILA AND MEZCAL?

To put it simply, it’s all about the agave plant. Mezcal covers all agave-based spirits, whereas tequila must only be made using the Blue Weber agave plant and in five authorised states - Guanajuato, Jalisco, Michoacan, Nayarit, or Tamaulipas.

The situation is similar to that of many other drinks such as Cognac and Champagne in that tequila is a type of mezcal, but mezcal is not a type of tequila.

Oh yeah - the worm. Now, the origins aren’t that well known, unfortunately, but it doesn’t appear to be very traditional and probably began as a marketing ploy. Disappointing we know. You will still find it in many batches though and some people say it improves the flavour! Interestingly, this is associated way more with mezcal than tequila.

Tequila tends to be divided by ageing, from younger Blanco to Reposado right through to older Añejo blends. Mezcal, on the other hand, is usually split up into mezcal, artisanal, or ancestral, and these are more concerned with production methods. It has to be said however that ageing and production methods differ and overlap with both spirits.

These differences do of course have a knock-on effect on other similarities and differences between the two, so let’s explore these two incredible spirits further…

How mezcal uses agave

tequila v mezcal what's the difference the three drinkers

Whilst undeniably less well known, mezcal actually has a deeper-rooted Mexican history than tequila, with hugely varied production methods and terroir resulting in an interesting and varied spirit.

More closely associated with village and family production. It has been created in Mexico for at least four centuries and translates loosely as ‘baked agave’. The mezcal industry isn’t a wild west of unregulated moonshine-style setups though. It can only be produced in eight states for starters, with Oaxaca being the most common. Over thirty different agave plants have been used in mezcal but 90% of the time it’s Espadin, which is then usually roasted under stone and distilled in clay pots or copper stills.

Different areas grow different agave, however, such as Michoacán where strains such as Americana and Cupreata flourish. This, compared with the different terroir results in all kinds of varying mezcals being produced. And that’s before the impact of barrel ageing is even considered!

Mezcal is produced in nine different states in Mexico. The vast majority comes from Oaxaca, with the rest coming from the Durango, Guanajuato, Guerrero, San Luis Potosí, Tamaulipas, Zacatecas, Michoacán and Puebla states. It is still mostly made by small-scale producers in tiny distilleries and its production is steeped in tradition, often being a family affair, with methods being passed down from generation to generation.

Unlike tequila which can only be made from the blue agave plant, mezcal can be produced from many different varieties, as well as blends of more than one agave. The most commonly used agave are Espadín, Tobalá, Arroqueño, Tepeztate and Tobaziche.

How tequila uses agave

The production process of tequila and mezcal is mostly the same, but as mentioned above, it has to use Blue Weber agave and be made in a stricter number of states (though most come out of Jalisco). Also, it has to be minimum 50% agave, though you’ll notice that the best always use 100% anyway. What’s so special about Blue Weber, you might be wondering?

It has more sugar than the other agave plants which makes distillation easier, and the reproduction, strength and overall life cycle are much more favourable for production. Generally, it leads to a herbal profile with spicy citrus notes, but like mezcal, it is a very malleable spirit in terms of adapting the flavour. Tahona stone wheel crushing is used for added sweetness, barrels usually impart notes such as American oak’s caramelly vanilla or French oak’s dry fruits.

During the cooking method, agave earmarked for a future of tequila will normally be steamed, whereas as mentioned before, mezcal agave is more likely to be roasted. This is why the most famous way of spotting the difference between the two is smokiness, but with so much variety that is by no means a sure-fire way of telling.

3 mezcals to try

Ojo de Dios Joven

Ojo de Dios Joven Tequila vs Mezcal: What’s the difference? The three drinkers

This is a joven blend, which equates to the youngest time of ageing possible. After ten days of roasting and double distillation, Ojo de Dios Joven is bottled. As a result, this is a mezcal that really pronounces the smokiness some drinkers adore, as well as a bold hit of fresh fruit. This is a really great entry-level mezcal to let you gauge what kind of blend you might be into.

Size: 700ml
ABV:
42%
Find here:
£39

Ilegal Reposado

Hailing from the world-famous Oaxaca region, this mezcal shows off the power of American oak ageing. After being twice distilled in copper stills and absorbing those flavours in the barrel, it has slightly caramelly woody aromas and, although there is a touch of smoke on the palate, you’ll notice vanillery butterscotch more. Award-winning for good reason.

Size: 700ml
ABV:
40%
Find here:
£59.45

Mezcal Tasting Set

If you’re a complete newbie then rather than committing to a whole bottle of mezcal, this may be the way forward. After all, if you’re trying a totally new drink then you might pick a cheap bottle to avoid wasting money only to find out it’s nasty stuff and you’re scarred for life (that’s not to say there aren’t affordable gems out there). There are five distinct samples here celebrating mezcal’s diversity to shine some light on your mezcal journey’s first steps.

Size: 15cl each
ABV:
42.4%
Find here:
£28.95 5x15cl

3 tequilas to try

El Espolòn Blanco

El Espolòn Blanco Tequila vs Mezcal: What’s the difference? The three drinkers

This Jalisco highlands Blanco is beautiful in more ways than one. A Day of the Dead rooster riding skeleton makes this a bottle to keep, even if the liquid inside will soon be guzzled down. Bottled without aging, fresh agave fills the nose followed by a sweet florality. It’s a fantastic Blanco to try from one of the most renowned producers in Jalisco.

Size: 700ml
ABV:
40%
Find here:
£59.45

Patrón Reposado

Patrón Reposado Tequila vs Mezcal: What’s the difference? The three drinkers

Patrón is one of the most respected tequila houses in Mexico, so you know you’re in safe hands with them. Their beautifully bottled amber Reposado has been adorned with Masters awards, praised for fresh citrus, smooth vanilla and a gorgeous honeyed agave. Reliably delicious.

Size: 700ml
ABV:
40%
Find here: £49.95

1800 Añejo Tequila

1800 Añejo Tequila Tequila vs Mezcal: What’s the difference? The three drinkers

Another bottle that proves why tequila bottles are our favourites – this one honours the Mayan pyramids! Dressed in that inviting caramel colouring is woody spice from over a year of French oak aging. If you’ve found that agave-forward tequila or mezcal isn’t for you, then this is a great one to try.

Size: 700ml
ABV:
38%
Find here:
£50

If you want to know more about the mezcal production process then there’s some fascinating insight in our, ‘What is What is Mezcal??’ article!

The Best Tequila To Gift This Christmas

best tequila to gift this christmas

There’s no drink more harmed by its own reputation than tequila. Far too many people have mixed memories of shots, salt, and lime and have simply written it off as a throat burner. Wrong!

Whilst it’s always possible it’s just not to someone’s taste, it’s more likely that a little bit more exploring would go a long way. Tequila is a versatile spirit for all times of the year, and these beauties below shouldn’t be anywhere near shot glasses or salt. No burn, just pure agave nectar!

Whereas tequila may have once brought you and your friends together in the club, let it now become a coming together drink at Christmas time instead... and you can actually cherish it this time. So, whether you want to treat yourself, win over a doubting Thomas, or just impress a sombrero-wearing tequila lover this Christmas, we’ve listed our favourite tequilas of each type below!

The Best Blanco Tequila to Gift

El Espolòn Blanco

El Espolòn Blanco

Renowned master distiller Cirilo Oropeza is behind this beautiful Blanco, crafting it in the highlands of Jalisco. This 100% blue agave beauty is bottled without aging, so just one smell gives you fresh agave front and centre, with floral notes and sweet flavours after sipping. What a bottle too! Espolòn comes from the spur of the rooster's foot, a bird of great significance in Mexican culture, so of course, there’s a Day of the Dead skeleton riding one on the label, what else?

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £26.49

Próspero Blanco

Próspero Blanco

Celebrities love to dip their toes into the world of tequila and mezcal, and in this case, Rita Ora has joined forces with distilling maestro Stella Anguiano to create Próspero. They have three styles: Blanco, Reposado and Añejo, but the Blanco stands apart from standard, un-aged tequila with a distinctly vibrant bouquet floral aroma followed by true 100% agave character and a slight spice to finish. If you’re looking for a cocktail Tequila, then this will definitely hold its corner, but it’s more than well-rounded enough to enjoy solo. We have to shout out the gorgeously designed bottle again. The Mexicans certainly know how to entice us in that’s for sure! Perfect for Christmas gifting.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £30.49

Tapatio 110 Blanco Tequila

Tapatio 110 Blanco Tequila

Tapatio Blanco is a tequila that you’ll spot in many bars, but not this special edition. 110 proof, it’s a lip-smacking 55% ABV, so if you know someone that’s a seasoned tequila drinker, they might love this punchy concentrated flavour. There’s a loveable fruitiness from nose to finish, and a pleasant hit of peppery spice on the palate. Maybe not one for a newbie, but if you’re already a convert, this is a must try.

Size: 500ml
ABV: 55%
Find here: £31

Calle 23 Blanco

Calle 23 Blanco

Another stylish bottle with that all important 100% agave trait you should seek out, this is an extremely pure expression of quality Blanco Tequila. It’s smooth and seductive with cooked agave at the fore. There are hints of citrus and herbaceous notes, but if you’re an agave purist then trust us, you’ll adore this!

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £37.99

Casa Noble Blanco

Casa Noble Blanco

This triple-distilled super smooth Blanco uses 100% Blue Weber agave grown in the rich, volcanic soil of the mountains in western Jalisco. There’s nothing rough around the edges at all, it’s simply pure, well balanced crisp nectar, with flavours of honey, fresh citrus and the agave itself which has an appetising buttery-sweetness to it. No lime or salt anywhere near this please.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £53.44

Maestro Dobel Diamante Tequila

Maestro Dobel Diamante Tequila

What we’ve got here is possibly the world’s first crystal clear multi-aged tequila. It’s an innovative blend of reposado (partially aged), añejo (aged for over a year) and extra añejo (aged for over three years). Usually, you would expect some colouring but with Dobel it’s filtered out, whilst retaining the beautiful creamy flavour and complexity the aging brings. With stunning layering of maple, nuts, and honey, this is ideal for anyone looking to try something a little different. It’s seriously good.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £47.90 (usually £54.90!)

Fortaleza Blanco

Fortaleza Blanco

The family run Fortaleza was launched in 2005, after being dismissed decades earlier as inefficient and old fashioned. They’ve since become respected for their influential history and are now bottling some of the finest tequila there is. This is often the place tequila drinkers are trying to ‘get to’, because it represents everything a pristine Blanco should be. 100% stone crushed agave with delightful bursts of olive and butter, it’s earthy, peppery with gentle citrus. Class in a glass, and a bottle worth keeping too!

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £56.40

The Best Reposado Tequila to Gift

Cazcabel Reposado

Cazcabel Reposado

Allow us to introduce you to the Gold Medal winner for Premium Reposado at the 2019 Tequila Masters. American oak aged for 9 months, you’ll find earthy flavours at first, then gorgeous cinnamon, caramel, and dried fruit surfacing. At the heart of this supporting cast though is a particularly vegetal agave, still bold and sweet even after aging. Quality beyond its price point so it’s likely one you’ll want to return to.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 38%
Find here: £25.99

El Rayo Reposado

El Rayo Reposado

This is a strikingly contemporary tequila bottle that will really impress as a gift from the moment it’s revealed under the wrapping. El Rayo means, ‘the lightning’, referencing the legend of how lightning struck and cooked a Blue Weber agave plant, creating the first tequila! Cracking it open reveals a full-bodied and layered tequila with golden caramel colouring that’s matured for seven months in ex-whiskey casks, creating a Reposado that’s well worth trying, especially if someone’s never taken to it tequila before.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £36.70

Patrón Reposado

Patrón Reposado

When thinking of a tequila house that consistently delivers excellence across its range, we never stray too far from Patrón. Their Reposado picked up a Masters gong at the Tequila Masters in both 2020 and 2021, and with each bottle hand-filled, signed and uniquely numbered, it’s as close as you can get to a guaranteed hit as a gift. Lightly amber in colour, it’s bright with freshly squeezed citrus and smooth vanilla, all wrapped together by honey and agave. You’ll struggle to find a more suitable star for your margarita than this Reposado.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £47.45

Pancho Datos Reposado

Pancho Datos Reposado

The name Pancho Datos is homage to the great historian and poet of the Mexican Revolution, Ricardo Grijalva de León. Before reaching those ominously gorgeous bottles, Panchos Datos Reposado is at rest for six months in white oak barrels that were once used to mature bourbon whiskey. These barrels more than leave their mark with tasty vanilla and caramel notes that make it utterly delicious. The extremely rounded flavours would make for a characterful and smooth margarita, but you have to try it over just over ice first.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £41.50 (usually £49.50!)

Mijenta Tequila Reposado

Mijenta Tequila Reposado

Mijenta is sustainability as well as flavour royalty. They’re an artisanal, small batch producer in the Jalisco highlands that work closely with local communities to create a product that delivers not only for the drinker, but for the planet too. Even their label is made from discarded agave waste! The Reposado is aged for half a year in a blend of barrels – American white oak, French oak, and French acacia casks. As a result, it boasts of rich vanilla, nutty wood, and bold vegetal agave, with a velvety feel throughout. Great backstory, fantastic tequila, what more can you ask for?

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £63.95

Clase Azul Reposado

Clase Azul Reposado

If we’re offering you some of the best options for gifting (or having yourself, let’s be honest) then we just can’t leave this out. We think it’s one of the most beautiful bottles we’ve seen, and we peruse a lot. Beyond the quirky bell that comes with it, each bottle is unique and 100% handcrafted by over 100 artists committed to working on 1 bottle at a time. Produced at one of the highest points in Los Altos, it’s rumoured that the extreme altitude has a unique effect on the flavour. Whether that’s true or not, it may as well be because it’s magnificent. The company’s secret yeast blend ferments the liquid before triple filtration distillation and fine oak aging completes the process. It’s picked up gold medals galore and if you’re fortunate enough to be able to really treat someone this Christmas, this is certainly the way to go! Just make sure no one throws away the bottle!

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £209.95

The Best Añejo Tequila to Gift

Rooster Rojo Añejo

Rooster Rojo Añejo

It’s our old friend the Mexican rooster again, this time on the front of a rich Añejo made by initially steaming the piña (the centre of the agave after harvesting) for 10 hours. Special yeast is added, before Rooster Rojo undergoes double pot distillation and maturing in ex-bourbon casks. As a result, you get mouth watering aromas of chocolate and coffee, with smoky tobacco and oak. Late come delicious, sweeter notes of caramel, vanilla and roast agave and a final wave of brown sugar on the finish. At this price, it’s absolutely irresistible.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 38%
Find here: £27.44

 1800 Añejo Tequila

 1800 Añejo Tequila

There’s lots to catch your eye with this. First, the oversized cap and interesting bottle shape that is paying homage to the Mayan pyramids. Secondly, check out that striking caramel nectar colouring! Thirdly, and most importantly, the taste. There’s a pleasant and very noticeable woody spice, derived from French oak aging for over a year. The agave is less front and centre than most, so try it and see what you make of it!

Size: 700ml
ABV: 38%
Find here: £43.69

Casamigos Añejo Tequila

Casamigos Añejo Tequila

If George Clooney’s involved, then it’s got to be worth a look. He’s the gorgeous face of Casamigos, so much so that the master distiller behind it has never actually been named! The 100% blue agave piñas are slow cooked for 72 hours in their traditional brick ovens, after which begins the 80-hour fermentation process with a signature yeast blend that gives this tequila its extra refined flavour. It’s then time for American white oak casks for 14 months to smooth out further and the result... there’s a sublime taste of pure roasted agave and it’s brimming with toffee penny, dark chocolate, and sweetly spiced oak notes. Every single sip tastes like Christmas so waste no time in getting it open on the day itself. No George included but you can’t have everything!

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £60.99

 

If you want to mix up belting Margaritas with the above beauties or find other tequila cocktails to try with them, check out our Best Selection here!

Words by Calum Ecroyd