Mezcal: Smoke, Soil, and the Soul of Agave

Long overshadowed by its famous cousin tequila, this ancient Mexican spirit has emerged as one of the most complex and sought-after drinks in the world.

Something remarkable has happened to mezcal over the past two decades. A spirit once dismissed as rustic firewater, the rough country cousin of tequila, now commands premium prices and occupies prime positions on the world's most sophisticated bar shelves. This transformation reflects not a change in the product itself but rather a belated recognition of what mezcal has always been.