By now, mezcal, very similar to tequila earlier than it, has crept into nearly each cocktail template, from Negronis to Mai Tais. However for a lot of stateside drinkers, the primary style of the agave spirit comes within the type of a Margarita. Swapped in for tequila, mezcal imparts an extra-earthy kick to the traditional. As a lot as its distinctive taste profile might be a bonus, nevertheless, it may possibly additionally current a problem.
When surveyed, a lot of specialists famous that smokiness, a typical attribute of the spirit, can generally overpower a Margarita. With that in thoughts, take into account a extra nuanced bottling when deciding on a mezcal for the job. “A mezcal from an arid setting that makes use of conventional strategies and copper distillation is good” as a result of these environments yield the sort of roasted, agave-forward profile one expects in a Margarita, says Bobby Heugel, an proprietor of the Thorough Fare group of bars in Houston. Additionally key, in response to Ivy Combine, proprietor of agave-focused New York bar Leyenda and writer of Spirits of Latin America, is deciding on one thing that’s 40 p.c ABV or larger: “Typically, mezcales [that are] so low in proof aren’t carrying the oomph you’re on the lookout for,” she explains.
Doing analysis into the practices of mezcal producers is essential to having fun with the spirit with integrity. As a fast start line, nevertheless, we requested a handful of bartenders for his or her high selections at a spread of value factors. Right here’s what they needed to say.
