Even if you’re a novice drinker, there’s a good chance you know at least a little bit about tequila. This Blue Weber agave-based spirit is wildly popular. Whether it’s a blanco, reposado, or even an añejo, drinkers can’t get enough of Mexico’s most popular spirit. But what do you know about mezcal? Did you know that tequila is actually a type of mezcal?
Yes, that’s right. Not all mezcal is tequila, but all tequila is mezcal. That’s because mezcal is the umbrella term for all agave-based Mexican-made spirits. While tequila can only be made with Blue Weber agave, mezcal can be made from more than forty different varieties. Tequila can only be produced in the state of Jalisco (where the town of Tequila is located) as well as a handful of other states, but Mezcal is made almost anywhere in Mexico. Its heart is in Oaxaca, but it’s also produced in the states of Puebla, Guerrero, Michoacán, San Luís Potosí, Durango, Tamaulipas, Zacatecas, and Guanajuato.
Mezcal is known for its wide range of flavors, including various fruits, roasted agave, herbs, vanilla, and oak. But many distillers also craft mezcals to have a distinctly smoky flavor. Below, you’ll find the best smoky mezcals available almost anywhere. Keep scrolling to see them all.
Photo via Ex Hacienda Los Camichines
Creyente Mezcal Cuishe
Made from Cuishe agave, this mezcal is an artisanal blend that is made the traditional way using the Tahona style, in which a large stone is used to crush agave. It’s then distilled in copper pot stills. The result is a memorable mezcal loaded with aromas of ripe pineapple, tropical fruits, roasted agave, and light herbal notes. The palate is a mix of earthy, roasted agave, vegetal sweetness, caramelized pineapple, and a nice gentle kiss of smoke throughout.
Photo via Mezcal Vago
Vago Elote
To say that Vago Elote is a unique mezcal is an understatement. It’s triple-distilled and gets its memorable flavor from the addition of roasted corn in the second distillation. This 100-proof mezcal is known for its nose of roasted corn, mineral aromas, and light smoke. Sipping it reveals notes of clover honey, vegetal agave, tropical fruit, sweet corn, and rich smoke. The finish is herbal, fruity, and pleasantly smoky.
Photo via Bosscal Company
Bosscal Mezcal Joven
Bosscal Mezcal Joven is made with wild-grown agave and distilled using traditional methods. It has a smooth, smoky, well-balanced flavor profile. It all starts with a nose of candied orange peels, roasted agave, bell peppers, minerality, and gentle smoke. On the palate, you’ll find notes of cracked black pepper, citrus peels, roasted agave, caramel, and pleasant smoke. This is the kind of mezcal that you’ll want to sip neat on a cool evening.
Photo via Lobos 1707
Lobos 1707 Mezcal Artesanal
Lobos 1707 is well-known for its tequila expressions. But don’t sleep on its mezcal. It’s made with 100% unaged Espadin agave that is roasted in open, wood-fired pits in Oaxaca. Finished in Pedro Ximenez sherry casks, this unique mezcal begins with a nose of toasted agave, tropical fruits, cracked black pepper, and light smoke. Sipping it reveals notes of peppery spice, roasted agave, vegetal sweetness, caramelized pineapple, gentle spices, and rich, savory smoke.
Photo via Doña Vega Mezcal
Mezcal Doña Vega Espadín
Made from Espadín agave, this popular mezcal features hand-picked agave that’s roasted in underground pits, crushed, fermented in copper pots, and distilled to proof. This 86-proof sipping mezcal begins with a nose of tropical fruits, roasted agave, cracked black pepper, and woody smoke. The palate is a mix of pineapple, caramel, cracked black pepper, vegetal agave, and pleasant smoke. It’s a great addition to your favorite cocktail, or a perfect rainy-day sipper.
Photo via Pernod Ricard
Del Maguey Chichicapa
In the world of mezcal, there are few names bigger than Del Maguey. If you’re looking for a gentle smoky mezcal from the brand, look no further than the Chichicapa expression. It gets its name because this Espadin-made, twice-distilled mezcal comes from the region of San Balthazar Chichicapam in Oaxaca. Distilled in wood-fired, copper stills, This 96-proof mezcal has nose of roasted agave, citrus peels, caramelized pineapple, sweet corn, green peppers, and light smoke. Sipping it reveals notes of ripe pineapples, toffee, cracked black pepper, toasted agave, and a gentle kiss of smoke.
