What Is Mezcal? A Beginner's Guide

How mezcal differs from tequila, how it's made, what it tastes like, and how to start drinking it.

Mezcal vs. tequila

Tequila is technically a type of mezcal — both are distilled from the agave plant — but tequila can only be made from blue Weber agave, mostly in and around Jalisco, using industrial steam ovens.

Mezcal can be made from dozens of agave varieties across several Mexican states, and traditional production still roasts the agave hearts in earthen pits lined with hot rocks, which is where its signature smokiness comes from.

Where the smoky flavor comes from

That underground roasting step infuses the agave with smoke before it's ever distilled, giving mezcal an earthy, campfire-like character that tequila doesn't have.

Not all mezcal is heavily smoky — the intensity varies by producer, agave variety, and region, ranging from delicate and floral to deeply smoky.

How to drink it

Sip a good mezcal neat or with a small side of orange slices and sal de gusano (a chile-worm salt) the way it's traditionally served in Oaxaca.

In cocktails, mezcal works beautifully as a smoky substitute for tequila. Our Mezcal Margarita swaps it directly into the classic Margarita template for an earthier, more complex drink.

Frequently asked questions

Is mezcal the same as tequila?

No. Tequila is technically a type of mezcal, but it can only be made from blue Weber agave, mostly around Jalisco, using industrial steam ovens. Mezcal can be made from dozens of agave varieties across several Mexican states, and traditional production roasts the agave in earthen pits, which is where its signature smokiness comes from.

Is all mezcal smoky?

Not necessarily. The underground roasting step gives mezcal an earthy, campfire-like character tequila doesn't have, but the intensity varies by producer, agave variety, and region — some mezcals are delicate and floral, others deeply smoky.