Fermentation: The Flavor Factory
Pour a glass of tequila, mezcal, or any well-made agave spirit and let it sit for a moment. As it opens, aromas begin to rise. Citrus, earth, herbs, maybe something floral. All of that...
Monthly Archive: March 2026
The World of Agave Spirits at a Glance
Agave spirits are often associated with Mexico, but today they are produced in several regions around the world. While tequila and mezcal are the most widely recognized, many other categories exist, each defined by...
Tequila: The World’s Most Recognized Agave Spirit
Tequila is often the first stop for anyone exploring agave spirits, and for good reason. It is the most widely produced, the most regulated, and the most recognizable worldwide. But behind the familiar name...
Mezcal: The Wild Heart of Agave Spirits
If tequila is the polished, global face of agave spirits, mezcal is its deeper, more rugged counterpart. It is less standardized, more diverse, and often more closely tied to local tradition. Mezcal is not...
Raicilla: Jalisco’s Hidden Agave Tradition
Photo: Andres Moran Raicilla is often described as one of Mexico’s best-kept secrets. It comes from the same state as tequila, but for most of its history it lived in the shadows, produced quietly...
International Agave Spirits: The Global Expansion of a Traditional Category
For centuries, agave spirits were closely tied to Mexico, where the plants, traditions, and regulations all developed together. That is no longer the case. Today, agave is being cultivated and distilled in multiple countries...
Cocuy: Venezuela’s Desert Agave Revival
Photo: Cocuy La Capilla Cocuy is one of the most fascinating agave spirits outside of Mexico. Produced in Venezuela, it shares some similarities with mezcal in terms of rustic methods and wild agave harvesting,...
Comiteco: Chiapas’ Aguamiel Distillate
Comiteco is one of the most unusual spirits associated with agave, and arguably one of the most misunderstood. Produced in the state of Chiapas, primarily around Comitán, it differs from most agave spirits in...
Sotol: The Desert Spirit That Isn’t Agave
Sotol is often grouped in with agave spirits, but technically it comes from a completely different plant. Instead of agave, sotol is made from Dasylirion, sometimes called desert spoon. These plants grow wild across...
Bacanora: Sonora’s Desert-Born Spirit
Photo: Sunora Bacanora Bacanora is one of the lesser-known agave spirits, but it carries a deep and resilient history. Produced in the rugged landscapes of northern Mexico, bacanora reflects the desert environment it comes...
