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How do you drink mezcal?

25.10.2020
by Yascha Roshani
Wie trinkt man Mezcal?


The most important facts in a nutshell:

  • Mezcal is drunk neat and unchilled, i.e. not on ice
  • Mezcal is not drunk as a shot, but enjoyed sip by sip
  • In Mexico, mezcal is often served with fruit, sweets, chili salt or fried grasshoppers


Mezcal really is a fantastic spirit. Even the sight of agaves has something majestic about it. It becomes even more exciting when you immerse yourself in the work of a maestro mezcalero and the traditional distilling and production methods of mezcal.

Surprisingly, mezcal is still somewhat undervalued in Germany, which is certainly also due to the lack of availability. Many people are also unaware of the difference between mezcal and tequila. However, as we Germans are always open to new spirits, it is surely only a matter of time before mezcal experiences its upswing here.

As our aim is to serve you rare drinks on a silver platter or computer or cell phone screen, you can buy original handcrafted mezcal online from us.

Nonetheless: How do you actually drink mezcal?


How to drink mezcal properly

In Mexico, mezcal is drunk neat and unchilled. (Unchilled means at room temperature, which is of course different for everyone. You can get your bearings at around 20 degrees).

Mezcal is not usually served on ice and is also not drunk as a shot.

As with all spirits, you should first get your palate used to the high alcohol content. It is therefore best to take a small sip first and let the good drop swirl around in your mouth so that your senses know what is going on.


Mezcal is often served with garnishes

A pretty cool Mexican custom is that mezcal is often served with fruit such as limes, oranges and pineapple or something sweet. Both sweet and fruity go very well with the often smoky taste of mezcal.


Mezcal wird oft mit Früchten und Sal de Gusano - ein Chilisalz - serviert
Mezcal is often served with fruit and sal de gusano - a chili salt with caterpillar flour


In the state of Oaxaca, the most important region for mezcal, it is customary to eat roasted grasshoppers (chapulínes) with mezcal. In Oaxaca, chapulínes are a normal snack at markets. Together with a fresh slice of orange, you have arrived at a very traditional and varied way to enjoy mezcal.

Another common accompaniment to mezcal is sal de gusano. This is a salt with chili powder and ground caterpillars. Ground caterpillars are also not uncommon in Mexico. Incidentally, the type of caterpillar is the same as you often see in a mezcal with worms.

Sal de Gusano is usually served with lime and sprinkled on top. The flavor combo is easy to imagine: sour, salty and spicy. Served with an earthy, smoky mezcal. Delicious. Of course, other fruits such as oranges and pineapple can also be found on the fruit plate.

Incidentally, Sal de Gusano is not only popular with mezcal. The salt is also used for other fruits and vegetables because of its special taste.

3 simple cocktails with mezcal

Of course, mezcal is also wonderful in cocktails. The special thing about mezcal is that it has a particular aroma that comes through well in drinks. You will quickly notice it in your first cocktail. Mezcal is not lost in the cocktail, but is very present.


Mezcal hat einen besonderen und markanten Eigengeschmack, der in Cocktails gut zur Geltung kommt
Mezcal hasa special and distinctive taste of its own, which comes through well in cocktails


We have put together three easy-to-make mezcal cocktails for you that definitely belong in the standard line-up.

The classic: Oaxaca Old Fashioned

3 cl reposado tequila
3 cl mezcal
1 bar spoon of agave syrup (half a teaspoon)
2 dashes of Angostura bitters

How to make it:

Pour all ingredients into a shaker or glass with ice cubes and stir well. Strain into a glass with large ice cubes. Garnish with orange zest.


The refreshing one: Basil Cranberry Julep

6cl mezcal
3cl cranberry syrup
0.5cl agave syrup
5 basil leaves

How to make it:

Place the basil and agave nectar in a glass and crush lightly. Add the mezcal, cranberry syrup and ice cubes (crushed if possible) and stir a little. Garnish with a small splash of cranberry syrup and a basil leaf.


The hard one: Prairie Fire Shooter

5 dashes of Tabasco
2cl mezcal

How to make it:

Add all ingredients to a glass with ice cubes and stir. Strain into a shot glass. Garnish with a chili pepper.



Are you still looking for the right mezcal? Mezcal Local Destilado con Pechuga is a big hit in the USA and is slowly conquering the hearts of connoisseurs in Germany. Mezcal Local is made from the well-known agave variety Espadin, but distilled with apples, peaches, bananas and oranges. At 42% vol. Alcohol very mild and full of fruit flavors.


Huizache Tequila Reposado online kaufen

Price: €59.80 for 0.75 liters | 42% vol. - Order here!


Buy Mezcal online now



  

About the autor:

Yascha Roshani

Yascha Roshani

Mitgründer von Honest & Rare

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Mich begeistern Getränke aller Art. Ob Bier, Gin, Weinbrand, Cold Brew Kaffee oder Limo. Vor allem liebe ich die Kultur, regionalen Bezüge und Herstellung von Getränken. Selbst braue ich ab und an Bier, setze Liköre an und röste Kaffee in der Pfanne.