Mezcal (above)is made from the agave plant (top) just as tequila is. But mezcal makers use a different fermentation process that gives the liquor a smoky flavor. RELATED LINKS Back to FINE LIVING IQ: Cocktails

Mezcal, a 95- to 98-proof liquor, long considered the unsophisticated cousin to tequila, is its predecessor and equal. What rye whisky is to scotch, mezcal is to tequila — the difference lies in the fermentation process. To make tequila, piñas, the sugar-rich heart of agave plants, are baked or steamed in above-ground ovens. To make mezcal, the agave piñas are baked in a conical, rock-lined pit oven over charcoal and covered with layers of palm-fiber mats and earth. The different technique gives mezcal a strong, smoky flavor.

Mezcal by the numbers:

2,000
Years ago that the ancient Aztec Indians were making pulque, the forerunner of mezcal. The Aztec believed pulque was a divine gift from the gods.

1
Number of worms you'll find at the bottom of some bottle in some brands of mezcal.

3
Large-scale distillers of mezcal. It's primarily made in small batches in rural areas.

8
Average number of years it takes an agave plant to mature.

1.3
Gallons of mezcal that can be made from a single agave.