Different types of mezcal
Oranges are not the only fruit, and there is more than one type of mezcal.
The style of mezcal will vary depending on several factors. You can categorise mezcal based on:
- The production process, or how it’s made.
- How long it’s aged for, like Tequila.
- The type of agave used.
So let’s break down the different types of mezcal, starting with some definitions laid out in the Denominaciones de Origen (DO) for mezcal, established in the 1990s by the Consejo Regulador del Mezcal (CRM).
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First, the CRM states that mezcal can be produced in 10 states: Oaxaca, Michoacan, Guerrero, San Luis Potosi, Tamaulipas, Zacatecas, Guanajuato, Durango, Puebla and Sinaloa.
In 2016, the CRM created three different categories: Mezcal, Artesanal and Ancestral.
Mezcal, Artesanal and Ancestral mezcals
The ancestral process is the most common. Image credit: Denver & Liely.
Beyond ancestral and artesenal
An example of a joven mezcal. Image credit: Dos Hombres Mezcal
Based on ageing process
Based on agave varieties
The famous Espadín agave. Image credit: Corte Vetusto Mezcal.
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