Chapter 8: Mezcal Flashcards
US definition of Mezcal (for distillation proof and % abv)
- An agave spirit distilled to less than 190 proof * Bottled at 40% abv (minimum)
Mexican standard for Mezcal - % abv
35% - 55%
NOM regulations concerning agave base for Mezcal
Must be 100% agave (“Type II Mezcal” with minimum 80% agave was disallowed in 2020)
Mexican State that is the leading producer of mezcal
Oaxaca
Other areas (states/towns) approved for the production of Mezcal (8)
- Guerrero * Durango * San Luis Potosí *Puebla *Zacatecas * Tamaulipas (partial) * Michoacán (partial) * San Luis de la Paz (town in the state of Guanajuato)
Type of agave most widely used in the production of Mezcal
‘Agave espadín’ (aka ‘Agave angustifolia’)
Factors in mezcal’s typical “smoky” aromas
Type of agave used, and the earth-covered “pits” often used in the cooking of the agave
Three categories of Mezcal
- Mezcal * Mezcal Artesanal * Mezcal Ancestral
Mezcal Artesanal: requirement for cooking agave
Must be cooked in pits or cement ovens (no stainless steel allowed)
Mezcal Artesanal: requirement for shredding agave
May be shredded via wooden bats, a stone wheel, or mechanical shredder
Mezcal Artesanal: requirements for fermentation
Must be completed in a vessel made of stone, wood, clay, earth, or animal skins
Mezcal Artesanal: requirements for distillation
- Must be distilled in a pot still fueled via direct fire * Vessel may be copper, stainless steel, clay, and/or wood
Mezcal ‘Ancestral’: requirement for cooking agave
Must be cooked in pits
Mezcal ‘Ancestral’: requirement for shredding agave
Must be shredded via wooden bats or a stone wheel
Mezcal ‘Ancestral’: requirements for fermentation
Must be completed in a vessel made of stone, wood, clay, earth, or animal skins
Mezcal ‘Ancestral’: requirements for distillation
- Must be distilled in a pot still fueled via direct fire * Vessel must be clay and/or wood
Six classifications for Mezcal
- Joven (young) * Madurado en vidrio (matured in glass) * Reposado * Añejo * Abocado con (flavored with) * Destillado con (distilled with)
Aging requirement for Joven Mezcal
No aging requirement
Aging requirement for Madurado en Vidrio Mezcal
- Aged in glass/min. 12 months *Underground (or other cool/dark place) * Age (in years) must be stated on the label
Aging requirement for Reposado Mezcal
Must be aged for a minimum of two months in oak barrels
Aging requirement for Añejo Mezcal
- Min. 1 year in oak barrels * Max. barrel size = 200 liters * Age (in years) must be stated on the label
Definition of “Abocado con” Mezcal
Mezcal that has been infused with an approved flavoring agent such as: maguey worms, damiana (a flowering shrub), lime, honey, orange, or mango
Definition of “Destillado con” Mezcal
Mezcal that has been distilled with other ingredients (such as fruit, spices, or meat) placed above the still
Pechuga / Mezcal de Pechuga
Term often used for Mezcal distilled with meat or poultry
Jicara
- A fruit (gourd), commonly referred to as ‘calabash’ * The dried peel is used as a traditional drinking vessel for Mezcal
Veladora
A drinking glass for Mezcal (somewhat resembling a votive candle holder)