Mezcal: what it is and how to choose a bottle

Mezcal is a Mexican spirit distilled from cooked agave, and it is usually smoky because the agave is roasted before it is crushed and fermented. You can browse the mezcal shelf at CBC Liquors, 142 Littleton Rd in Westford, and this guide explains what to look for before you pick a bottle.

What is mezcal?

Mezcal is a spirit made from the agave plant. The word covers any agave spirit made in the traditional way in the regions of Mexico where it is permitted, and most of it comes from the state of Oaxaca. Tequila is technically one kind of mezcal, but when people say mezcal they mean the broader family, usually with a smoky edge.

The process explains the flavor. The heart of the agave, called the piña, is cooked, often in an earthen pit lined with hot stones and covered over. That slow roast gives the spirit its smoke, along with notes people describe as roasted pepper, citrus peel, earth and sometimes a little sweetness. The cooked agave is then crushed, fermented and distilled.

At CBC Liquors the whole mezcal category sits under liquor, alongside tequila, whiskey, rum and the rest of the spirits shelf. If you are new to it, the next few sections cover the questions most people ask first.

How is mezcal different from tequila?

Tequila must be made from blue Weber agave, and it is normally cooked in industrial ovens or autoclaves, which gives a cleaner, softer, often sweeter spirit. Mezcal can be made from many kinds of agave, and the traditional pit roasting is why it so often tastes of smoke.

That does not make one better than the other. They are different drinks for different moods. If you like a tequila in a margarita because it is bright and crisp, a mezcal version will taste deeper and rounder. If you already enjoy peated Scotch or a smoky barbecue sauce, mezcal may suit you well.

It is not the same as the worm in the bottle you may have heard about. That is an old novelty tied to some low-end bottles, and serious mezcal does not need it.

What does joven mean on a mezcal label?

Joven means young. A joven mezcal is bottled soon after distillation and has not been aged in wood, so what you taste is the agave and the smoke rather than barrel flavors. It is the style most people start with and the one most bartenders reach for when they make cocktails.

Other age terms follow the same pattern used for tequila. Reposado is rested in wood for a short time, and añejo is aged for longer, which brings in vanilla and caramel notes. If you want to understand how aging changes an agave spirit, our guide to añejo tequila walks through it.

You may also see words such as espadín on a label. That names the type of agave, and espadín is the one used most often for mezcal. A bottle named after another agave will usually taste a little different, sometimes more herbal, sometimes more floral.

Which mezcal bottles can you get at CBC Liquors?

Here are the mezcals we carry that people ask about when they search for the category. Ilegal Joven Mezcal and ILLEGAL Joven Mezcal are both joven bottles, which makes them a straightforward way to try the unaged style.

Del Maguey Vida Puebla and REY CAMPERO Joven Espadin Mezcal are two more to look at, and the second one names its agave right in the title, so it is a good bottle for learning how to read a label. Mezcal Union Uno and DOS HOMBRES Mezcal round out the group.

Stock changes, so check the mezcal page for what is on the shelf today. If you are standing in the shop on Littleton Rd and cannot decide, ask us and we will help you pick one that fits what you plan to make or drink.

How do you drink mezcal?

The traditional way is neat, in a small clay cup or a small glass, sipped slowly. Give it a moment in the glass first. The smoke usually comes forward on the nose, and the agave, fruit and spice show up as it warms in your hand.

In Oaxaca it is often served with orange slices and a salt blend called sal de gusano, which is ground with dried agave worm and chile. The orange cuts the smoke and the salt lifts the sweetness. You can do the same at home with plain orange slices and a little salt and chile if you like the idea.

A few drops of water or a single large ice cube can open up a strong bottle, but there is no rule. Drink it the way you enjoy it, and pour sensibly. Mezcal is often bottled at a higher strength than people expect, and it is for adults of legal drinking age only.

What cocktails work with mezcal?

The easiest swap is mezcal for tequila in a margarita. Shake mezcal, lime juice and an orange liqueur, and you get a drink with the usual citrus snap plus a layer of smoke. A paloma works the same way with grapefruit soda in place of the usual tequila.

If you prefer stirred drinks, try a mezcal old fashioned. Mezcal stands in for whiskey, with a little agave syrup and bitters, and an orange peel on top. Some people split the base between mezcal and an aged agave spirit to soften it.

You will want fresh citrus and good mixers for these. Our mixers shelf covers the sodas and bottled bases, and our liqueur section has the orange liqueurs and other bottles that go into the classics. If you are hosting, the party planner is a handy place to work out how much of everything to buy.

How do you choose between a mezcal for sipping and one for mixing?

Start with how you plan to use it. For cocktails, a joven mezcal is the usual choice. Its smoke carries through lime, grapefruit and sweeteners without getting lost, and you do not need to spend your time hunting for subtle aged notes that a shaker will bury.

For sipping, look for a bottle whose label tells you something: the agave, the village or the maker. That information is a sign that the producer wants you to taste the place and the plant. Taste a few over time and you will find whether you lean toward the smoky, the vegetal or the fruity.

If you are buying as a gift, a joven bottle with a clear label is a safe choice for someone curious about agave spirits. We also sell gift cards if you would rather let them choose.

How can you buy mezcal from CBC Liquors in Westford?

You can walk in at 142 Littleton Rd, Westford, MA 01886. We are open Sunday 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM, Monday to Thursday 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM, and Friday and Saturday 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM. Pickup runs on the same hours.

We also offer delivery and shipping. Delivery hours are Sunday 10:00 AM to 7:30 PM, Monday to Thursday 10:00 AM to 8:30 PM, and Friday and Saturday 10:00 AM to 9:30 PM. Check the delivery areas page to see whether your town is covered. We serve people in Chelmsford, Acton, Littleton, Lowell and several other nearby towns.

Anyone receiving alcohol needs to be 21 or older with a valid ID. Our Google rating is 4.7 out of 5 from 339 reviews, and we carry 4,624 products from 1,893 brands, so if mezcal gets you curious about agave spirits, there is plenty more to explore.