How to buy a “good” Mezcal or Tequila? Easy, just look for these 3 things on the label.

Mezcal and Tequila have the same origin, an agave distillate. In fact, Tequila is the name of the most famous mezcal, but Tequila's popularity at the end of XIX century established the differences.

We @Agavache promote high quality Mexican distillates and do not recommend industrialized products.  That said, you should know that some artisanal Tequila brands have survived the industrializing rush and it is necessary to set them apart (or maybe rescue) them from the majority of the Tequilas that overrun the market with low quality, big marketing budgets and decreasing popularity.

There are 3 main differences between Mezcal and Tequila:

• The Agave: Mezcal can be distilled from about 42 different species of agave. Tequila must be distilled only fromAgave Tequilana Weber. 


• Denomination of origin: Mezcal is produced in 12 states (Oaxaca, Durango, Guanajuato, Guerrero, San Luis Potosí, Tamaulipas, Zacatecas, Michoacán, Puebla, Aguascalientes, Estado de México y Morelos*) and some of them are controversial or contested. Tequila is produced in 5 states (Jalisco, Guanajuato, Michoacán, Nayarit y Tamaulipas). 


• Production process: Most Mezcal is made by the "artisanal process", while Tequila is made, more often than not, by industrial processes.

These differences decide the liquor's quality and flavors. And there is one more difference: the classification. A few years ago, the categories were very similar, but now, they are more descriptive:

• Tequila is classified as White or Silver, Young or Gold, Aged, Extra-aged and Ultra-aged (NOM 006). Mezcal is classified as White or young, aged (reposado), extra-aged (añejo), matured in glass, Abocado with and Distillated with (NOM 070). 

Sarah Bowen in her book “Divided spirits, tequila, mezcal and the politics of production”  summarized in an easy way the difference between Mezcal and Tequila: "Tequila is now largely made in modern, high-tech factories by multinational liquor companies. In contrast, most Mezcal distilleries are nestled in remote rural areas and produce small batches for local markets". She also points  out that some Mezcal brands have begun copying the Tequila model, adopting innovations and relying on multinational liquor companies to facilitate access to global markets.

The industrialization is consequence of the growing demand. In 2017, Tequila and Mezcal exports reached 1,389 millions of dollars. In accordance with the article "Exportaciones del Tequila y Mezcal" by El Economista, Mezcal sales grew 266.74% since 2014 to 2016 and Tequila sales increased just by 16.24% in the same period.

The increase in sale has generated popularity and many new brands, which has increased the difficulty for the consumers to select one at the point of purchase. But don't worry, you can use these 3 things that should be found on the label to guide your next purchase.

1. The legend "100% Agave". All mezcales are produced with sugars obtained 100% from the agave, but Tequila doesn't have the same practice. If the legend just says "Tequila" it means that it was enriched with others sugars and only 51% of total sugars were extracted from the Agave Tequilana Weber.


2. The information about the production process, "Artesanal or ancestral" for Mezcal and "Artesanal" for Tequila. If this information is not in the label, then it was produced in an industrial way and its organoleptic properties won't be authentic or of good quality.


3. The classification, White or Young for Mezcal and White or Silver for Tequila. They have the purest flavors because they were not in contact with wood or flavor enhancers. (CAUTION: Be aware that White or Silver Tequila is  not the same that Tequila Joven, which is a mix of Tequila Silver with Tequila gold or a mix of Tequila Silver with Tequila aged.)

Now, that you have learned how to identify a good Mezcal or Tequila by the content on their label, feel free to comment about your experience buying mezcal or suggest some brands to discover.

*In August 2018, Aguascalientes, Estado de México y Morelos were added to the Denomination de Origin Mezcal.

Mabi Cuishe

instagram: @mabi_cuishe

twitter / facebook / instagram: Agavache

With an industrial design background and mezcal, wine & spirits certifications (WSET level 2), I decided to found Agavache with my partner Alejandro, to promote mezcal from a cultural identity and socially responsible perspective. It’s not just about selling it, it’s about making each sip transcend into a consciousness educated by the magic, traditions and work that goes into making the elixir.