Mezcal.
 

I don’t understand it. I’m not talking about the cheap stuff with a worm.

I like tequila plenty. Mezcal doesn’t even seem related to me. My good friend is really into mezcal. His collection is huge. He has a bottle that says in the label; “bottle 7 of 15”. Seriously small batch stuff. He befriended the guy bringing the stuff in. They are planning a road trip into Mexico with his 356 coupe. (Sounds fun!)

Mezcal. I don’t love it. I am however, fascinated by the vast flavor differences. My Spanish is rusty, but I think I sipped something infused with rattlesnake. Weirdest stuff ever.

Anyone like mezcal?

It'll rot your brain...

We used to run south of the boarder, fill the trunk with cases of the stuff the run back home and get sheetfaced... of course in those days it was more about the effect that taste. (It was the stuff with the worm).

I'm somewhat bemused by the craft tequila thing because the memories of my youth it was the cheapest hard booze we could get out hands on.

On the other hand I have tried some high in tequila and have to admit the good stuff can be very tasty, just hard to wrap my head around spending +$100 on a bottle of tequila.

Tequila is a particular type of mezcal.

Used to drink the Mescalero brand.

I was fascinated when i first learned how it was traditionally made.

Some are a bit smoky for my taste, but others are nice.

Mezcal Negronis and Oaxacan Old Fashioneds are tasty.

I keep meaning to try Pechuga sometime... sounds intriguing.

The intoxicating effects are unique. Hence the appeal.

Tried the chicken-quila at a bar in SF a year or so ago. It was what it promised, it was worth $25 to taste it but I'd never buy a bottle. A once-in-a-lifetime experience I guess you could say.

The other Del Magueys - they're awesome and worth the price. Some are smokey like putting your head over a campfire rather than rich like scotch. Rather than drink it you could just sit there and smell it for hours...

One of my former co-workers called in on Monday morning with the "Monday Flu" and on Tuesday he came into to work he still looked bad. He had been drinking Mescal with a friend and taking shots until the worm came out of some large bottle. He said he still can't remember who "got" to eat the worm, but it was a big prize. Until the next morning. And the following day. It was not something that appealed to me.

I ate a worm from a bottle in college.

Never again, ever.

Good mezcal is really smoky and citrusy. Try Illegal Joven.

You see it here?joven is just a blanco, right?

I was told that mezcal is distilled from a wild plant in the cactus family, and that tequila is distilled from a domesticated crop variety.

https://www.thedrinksbusiness.com/2016/12/tequila-mezcal-whats-happening/
Years ago my wife and I accidentally wandered into a Mexican wedding in Oaxaca, my wife remembers it as the Miss Oaxaca contest. One of the friendly attendees encouraged us to drink from a large Sprite bottle, it was some home made Mezcal that with one sip gave us a hot flash and made us sort of dizzy. Now that was authentic hooch.

I drink mezcal. I used to drink tequila, but switched over. I've tried just about every one I can find on the shelf. I live in a fairly small town and have known the owner of my local liquor store for years. He'll let me look at his on line catalog and he'll order me whichever I want and sells it to me at his cost. Lately I've been drinking Marca Negra reposado. It's hard to find anything other than joven (blanco). Gracias a Dios was nice for @ $45 but he hasn't been able to get it lately. Oh, and the only time I found a worm in the bottle was in the cheap stuff. There's also one called Scorpion, yup has a scorpion exoskeleton in it, not very good in my opinion.

Mescal is free at Amanda's Saloon for the boys from the old Broken O.

I rarely drink (anymore), but like a shot of "good" reposado on occasion (Don Julio, et al). It ain't like bar Cuervo or worse. But a bottle of Cuervo's Reserva de la Familia ($100)....twice now, does NOT suck :). I ate the worm once in college...I ate a LOT worse back then too :(