Mezcal for Scotch Drinkers: How to Sip the Oldest Spirit in North America
Mezcal is arguably the oldest spirit in North America and has long been enjoyed slowly, sipped neat to honor its craft and tradition. Far from being a quick shot at the bar, traditional mezcal like Mocel Mezcal is meant to be appreciated sip by sip, much like a rare Scotch.
The Agave Journey: How Mezcal is Made
Scotch draws its character from years aging in oak barrels. Mezcal, however, develops its complexity long before distillation beginning with agaves that can take up to 25 years to mature. Every step is labor-intensive and time-honored, guided by choices that shape its final character and carried out by skilled hands using time-honored methods:
Agave Selection: Each species offers unique flavor notes. Inaequidens, for example, delivers bright, floral sweetness, while the Cupreata agave provides earthy, mineral depth.
Roasting: Agaves are cooked in earthen pits, imparting a natural smokiness. Different from peat in Scotch, but equally expressive.
Fermentation & Distillation: Wild fermentation and wooden stills produce subtle layers of flavor with each mezcal batch.
Small-Batch Nuance: Each batch is distinct; no two bottles are exactly alike, a reflection of both nature and the mezcaleros’ craft.
Every bottle is a story of terroir, hands-on craft, and decades of patience, rather than years spent aging in oak.
Mezcal production process using traditional firewood, artisanal techniques that highlight the similarities and differences with whiskey-making.
How to Sip Mezcal Like a Scotch Connoisseur
Just as Scotch enthusiasts savor the nuances of smoke, peat, and fruit, mezcal drinkers uncover layers of roasted agave, floral sweetness, minerality, and earthiness in every sip. To fully appreciate it, bring your whisky expertise to a mezcal tasting:
Serve Neat, at Room Temperature – No ice, no chaser.
Choose the Right Glass – A champagne flute or traditional copita allows aromas to expand.
Observe the Nose – Inhale deeply; notice smoke, floral notes, and earthiness.
Savor the Palate – Let it roll over your tongue; note complexity, balance, and texture. First sip is to awaken your tasting buds, then after the second sip, you will begin to pick up tasting notes.
Finish Slowly – Mezcal lingers, revealing subtle shifts with each sip.
Pairing Mezcal with Food: A Scotch Lover’s Guide
Mezcal, similar to scotch, is perfect for contemplative sipping and thoughtful pairings:
Pair with smoked meats, tuna, chocolate, or aged cheeses for enhanced flavor. Check out more pairings here.
Consider mezcal flights to explore regional differences, just like Scotch regions (Islay, Speyside, Highlands).
Mezcal and Scotch share more than their sipping rituals they are both spirits that reward patience, curiosity, and respect for tradition. Where Scotch tells its story through its oak aging barrel process, mezcal’s story is told through the agave and the centuries-old practices that bring it to life—pit roasting, wild fermentation, and small-batch distillation carried forward by families for generations. Each bottle is not only a spirit, but a living expression of land and heritage. For scotch drinkers, discovering mezcal is less about comparison and more about entering a world where tradition itself is the greatest ingredient.
Ensamble
Expression 2022
100% Agave Cupreata, Inaequidens and SP (Espadincillo)
Made from three regional agaves, this mezcal is filled with floral and vegetal notes.
Winner of the prestigious Double Gold Medal Award at the renowned San Francisco World Spirits Competition.
Limited batch release.
No. of bottles produced: 582
$235.99
