The sombrero-touting land of Mexico is home to many agave spirits, but tequila seems to be the one that has taken a big bite of the fame tortilla! Not only is tequila the base spirit for the extremely famous Margarita, the name of the spirit alone was the namesake and the only lyric to one of The Champs’ most famous tunes. This blog isn’t about tequila though. Today, we talk about the OG Mexican spirit Mezcal, and more importantly the Mezcalita, a cocktail made with it.
What Is A Mezcalita?
To understand the Mezcalita better, you need to know an important distinction first. Every tequila is a mezcal, but not every mezcal is a tequila. It’s the same as the difference between sparkling wine and champagne.
All mezcal is made by roasting the heart of the agave plant. What separates tequila from mezcal is the use of the blue Weber agave, which is steamed to make the former. Mezcal, however, can be created by roasting the heart of over 40 varieties of the agave plant. Traditionally, this roasting is done in underground pits that give the mezcal its prominent earthy, and smoky flavor. Mezcal also has a different fermentation process than tequila, where the former depends on airborne yeast and the latter has commercial yeast added to aid the fermentation process.
A Mezcalita is a cocktail that uses… you guessed it right, Mezcal! The easiest way to describe a Mezcalita is to call it a variation of the classic Margarita, but that would do the mezcal cocktail a disservice. The difference is more than just swapping the base spirits of the cocktails. “What are these differences?”, you ask… Well read on and find out.
Also Read: Difference Between Tequila And Mezcal: Everything You Need To Know
What Is The Difference Between A Mezcalita And A Margarita?
Apart from substituting the base spirit of tequila with mezcal, the Mezcalita is also less spirit heavy than the Margarita, using a smaller portion of mezcal than tequila. The Mezcalita also adds freshly squeezed juices to the mix, subbing out a part of the Triple sec (an orange flavored liqueur) that is used in the Margarita.
Thanks to these changes, the Mezcalita is a less spirit-forward cocktail that focuses more on the sour aspects of the drink. The fresh, citrus flavors of the orange juice tango with the earthy and smoky notes of the mezcal to create a goldilocks zone of tastes. Add the zinginess of the lime juice and Tajin to the mix and you’ve got a spicy salsa to wake your tastebuds up. Damn! Talk about a party in your mouth!
Also Read: Umami Cocktails To Tickle Your Tastebuds
Mezcalita Recipe
Now that you know about the history and flavor profiles of the Mezcalita, how abouts you try making one for yourself, eh? Here’s everything you need to start mixing Mezcalitas at home:
Mezcalita Ingredients
- 1.5 oz. of mezcal
- 1.5 oz. of fresh orange juice
- 0.75 oz. of fresh lime juice
- 0.5 oz. of Triple sec
- 2 dashes of Orange Bitters (optional)
- Tajin for rimming
- Lime wedge for rimming
How To Make A Mezcalita
- Rub a lime wedge along the rim of a rocks glass to dampen it, and press the rim into a plate of Tajin seasoning. Put aside for later use.
- Add the mezcal, fresh orange and lime juice, triple sec, and the bitters into a shaker with ice. Shake well for 12-15 seconds, or until the mixture is chilled.
- Add fresh ice into the prepared rocks glass and strain the mixture from the shaker into it.
Also Read: Cocktails With Weird Names That You Should Try
Summing Up
Both mezcal and tequila are fruits of the agave plant that has its roots deep in Mexican culture and history. These spirits are not just Mexico’s contribution to the drinking community of the world, but also a part of the country’s heritage. So if you ever want to take a trip down Mexico way, ditch the afternoon Margarita and let the Mezcalita give your step and evening a little sway!
FAQs
What Is A Mezcal Margarita Called?
A mezcal margarita, or a Mezcalita, is a recipe that uses mezcal instead of tequila, and substitutes the orange liqueur for freshly squeezed orange juice.
What Is Mezcal Made Of?
Mezcal is a distilled spirit made by roasting the heart of the agave plant in an underground pit. After roasting, the sugars from the heart are allowed to ferment, and then distilled twice, to produce Agave.
What Is Mezcalitos?
A mezcalito is a variation of Mojito which substitutes the vegetal or nutty flavors of rum for the earthy and smoky flavors of mezcal.
What’s The Difference Between Tequila And Mezcal?
While mezcal is made from over 40 varieties of the agave plant, tequila can be made using only the blue Weber variety of the Mexican succulent.
What’s Good To Mix With Mezcal?
Mezcal can mix with ingredients like orange and lime juice, grapefruit juice, and more, as well as spirits like vermouth, ginger beer, rum and others. As a result, you can get a variety of Mezcal cocktails like:
- Mezcal Paloma
- Tia Mia
- Mezcal Mule
- Mezcal Negroni
- Mezcal Last Word
- and many more.
How To Drink Mezcal With Orange?
People often partake in drinking mezcal neat, to appreciate the flavor notes of the agave based spirit. Traditionally, mezcal is served at room temperature with orange slices and ground chili peppers and salt.
Can You Substitute Mezcal For Tequila?
Thanks to their similar (but not identical) production processes, tequila and mezcal can be served and mixed interchangeably, which results in the creation of variations like the Mezcalita. To achieve the traditional tastes however, it is advised to try the original recipes first before beginning to substitute ingredients.
