What is Mezcal and What is Tequila?
Throughout Mexico ‘mezcal’ is also produced. This liquor is fermented from an agave extract, without having to meet the standards that would make it Tequila. Mezcal can be much like Tequila or somewhat different – it can be made from species that differ from the blue agave and be subject to adulteration. Worms? The so-called ‘tequila worm’ is sometimes found in bottles of mezcal. This larva lives in agave and in certain regions of Mexico they may add the worm to the bottle – although a worm is never added to fine bottles of ‘100% Agave Tequila’. Most likely the legendary mind-altering effects of this creature relate to the amount of Tequila that has to be drunk from the bottle to extract the pickled larva at the bottom. The Making of a Fine Tequila Tequila production begins with the farming of the blue agave. This large, greenish-blue, spiny, long-leafed plant is left to grow until it reaches about ten years of age. When it is mature, a skilled harvester – the jimador – will chop off t
