Drink Well - Mezcal Guide
Goes to Mexico a few times, comes home a “mezcal expert” …
While no amount of alcohol is technically considered ‘healthy’ we still admittedly indulge in a daily afternoon cocktail by the beach / rainforest / pool while travelling. We offset the booze with lots of water, many many steps while exploring, a healthy plant-focused lunch, and try to choose ‘healthier’ options, like mezcal! It’s low in sugar and actually has some proven health benefits (peep the references below, you guys!);
Mezcal 101
The name mezcal comes from the words metl + ixcalli, which translate to “cooked agave.” Mezcal, like tequila, is distilled from agave but while tequila must be specifically distilled from blue agave plant mezcal is made from any of the 150 agave species native to Mexico. While the possibilities for mezcal-making are essential endless, the overwhelming majority of mezcal is made from the espadín plant, which produces over 90% of all mezcals. To make mezcal the leaves of mature agave plants are stripped away, leaving only the heart of the plant which is then roasted over a wood fire for a few days. This roasting process is unique to mezcal and gives the drink it’s signature smoky flavour. Not only am I more partial to the smoky taste of mezcal, it also happens to be a ‘cleaner’ choice. Tequila is often adulterated with corn-based fillers while mezcal must be distilled from 100% agave making it an excellent choice for those of you with wheat, barley, rye or corn sensitivities.
Health Benefits Of Mezcal
We fell madly, deeply, irrevocably in love with mezcal on our many trips south of the border. It’s delicious in a margarita, you don’t need to drink much of it in order to get a happy little buzz (she’s potent), and drinking mezcal almost always leads to a memorable night. There are also some actual health benefits from switching to mezcal over other types of alcohol. Mezcal contains compounds called agavins which research shows can help to lower blood sugar levels and curb appetite. This makes it an excellent drink choice through the holidays when you’ll undoubtedly be eating a few extra sugary Christmas treats. In my quest to prove that mezcal was actually good for me I even came across an interesting little mouse study in which consumption of agains led to accelerated weight loss in mice due to favourable changes in their gut microbiota. While we’re not technically mice (mouse may or may not have been a nickname of mine in high school) the mouse has many similarities to humans in terms of anatomy, physiology and genetics so it’s not a huge stretch to assume that similar benefits would be seen in people.
It’s also a better options for well-wanderers with multiple food sensitivities who are attempting avoid common allergens / gut irritants found in most alcohols (we’re looking at you; rye, corn, potato, wheat and barley). The rarely aggravating agave plant makes mezcal a safer choice for people with celiac disease, digestive issues, or multiple food sensitivities. Just make sure to check the label to make sure your mezcal is made from 100% pure agave. Mezcal’s labels as ‘mixtos’ are typically made up of 80% agave + 20% added cane sugar.
Our Favourite Mezcals
The best mezcal comes from a SUS looking 2L plastic bottle and is served by the ocean in Mexico accompanied by fried crickets and incredible women. When these drinking conditions are not possible you can still find a few great mezcal options at your local liquor store. Here are ur CMO’s current favourites, available at most LCBO locations:
Leyenda Tlacuache Organic Mezcal – One of the smokier options we’ve tried, this one comes closest to the homemade mezcals I drank in Mexico.
Yuu Baal Joven Madrecuixe Mezcal – By far the most expensive mezcal that we currently keep in our home bar, this treat is reserved for special occasions and has a subtle herbal flavour.
Mezcal Amores Verde Momento – Our go-to for homemade mezcal margaritas, or for sipping out of copitas while reading cook books.
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