Mezcal The Thirsty Traveler : Episode FLTHR-302
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.
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