After comparing mezcal and tequilain one studyand determining the best temperature for mezcal's fermentationin another, he and his colleagues turned to the worm, the gusano. Rey Campero Tepextate (notice levels in each bottle), Candied peppers, Dr. Pepper, and Jelly Beans. They had all been open for a little over a year and all the bottles had just over 25% left. They are aged in oak barrels and the worm intensifies their aromatic profile. It's the caterpillar form of a species of moth that lives in agave plants. We sipped cocktails and thought about what it should be. It is produced by extracting the heart of the agave plant, roasting it and mashing it to a pulp, then. To consume a tequila worm, you must first take a shot of the alcoholic beverage with it. Does mezcal have a worm? The brands pushing mezcal to new levels don't use the worm. And some agavero kept putting off sending in his gusano sampleand then finally drank it? MEZCAL has a terrible image. While worms do live in agave leaves, adding one to a bottle of mezcal is not standard practice, according to a 2015 article from Maxim. Lisa Richards, a nutritionist and author of The Candida Diet, explained that mezcal's purity is what makes it safe for those who can't have gluten. Softer palate. But I have seen mezcal with a scorpion in the bottle, up in Durango, and that appears to be a reflection of the Oaxacan gusano practice. Aside from the bottling process, i would suppose this 750ml of mezcal hasnt been exposed to air in ~11 years. After,other producers started to us the tactic as a way todifferentiate themselves from tequila back when mezcal started to gain popularity from Oaxacan tourism.Today, it widely regarded that the producers who use the worm in their mezcal is of lower quality. It cemented the idea in the male western mind that Mezcal with a worm was in fact, the real Mezcal. Smoke is not always the most pronounced element in mezcal, nor must it be viewed as the chief virtue. While it's true that both liquors are made from agave, there are a few key differences that set mezcal apart. So, if you have already bought a bottle of Mezcal with a worm or you are in a party and someone insists you drink it, you may consider these 3 tips: Drink with caution: it is not dangerous, but it is a common practice to attract the attention of tourists and chances are the Mezcal itself is of poor quality. To maximize the shelf life of mezcal for quality purposes, store in a cool dry area away from direct heat or sunlight; keep tightly closed when not in use. They found that limonene did possess anti-tumor effects, but this experiment was limited to cells grown in a laboratory. He had it on his bar forever. They found that it relaxed the muscles that line blood vessels, causing them to widen and blood pressure to decrease (a process known as vasodilation). Does mezcal with worm go bad? That oak profile makes those Mezcales specifically suited for the worm. Whiskey connoisseur? The younger one looked at his drink and said, you know what we should do? So sometimes the workers will drop a xumilin in the mezcal. So maybe its kind of like ad hoc spice done on the fly (pun intended) for your mezcal? The simplest way to think about it, explains Sydney Block, co-founder of Catedral Mi Padre Mezcal, is that all tequila is mezcal but not all mezcal is tequila. Or thrown some of the gusanos that live off their agave into the still to make a pechuga that forces the grubs to earn their keep. can I leave it out now and drink as it was supposed to be room temp? A 2006 study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry found that all Mexican spirits distilled from agave, including mezcal, had high concentrations of oxalates. To be clear, thats speculative. I believe you would have found this if you had let your experiment run for 2 yrs or so, maybe less, but 7 months seems too short. We should do a really special Mezcal. Worm salt is most commonly used during mezcal tastingsbut it can also be used for rimming mezcal cocktails and Mexican cooking as well. "Cis-3-Hexen-1-ol has been recognized as a pheromone involved in mechanisms and behaviors of attraction in diverse animals such as insects and mammals," De Len said. Mezcal Fun Facts Mezcal is a distilled liquor made from the agave plant. The mezcal worm began as a way to distinguish mezcal from tequila and was transformed into an added element of . Thats what most of the world thought mezcal was a couple of decades ago, because thats all that was available outside the rural Mexican communities where its made. So tequila is a type of mezcal, but mezcal is not tequila, and only mezcal has worms. We pulled a few lower ABV mezcals off the shelf earlier this year. In this post, we will try to unearth some more interesting facts behind the best mezcal with worms. They already know they like that tasty snack. Recientemente, se convirti en la primera mujer mexicana en lograr con distincin el nivel 2 y nivel 3 en espirituosos por Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET). When that larva isnt busy in the agave plant becoming a moth then it is sold as a tasty snack. First things first: The "worm" at the bottom of some bottles of mezcal isn't actually a worm, as noted by Vice. Notes of chocolate, rose pedals. Curious about why you sometimes feel awful the morning after drinking? Don't worry, though; we're talking Mezcal, not math. Impossible to tell without actually having it in front of me, but generally, it should be ok as long as nothing entered the bottle. Simply by using that phrase, though traditional mezcal suggests, in that context, that mezcal con gusano isnt traditional. It surely has something to do with the $$$ part! Mezcal (/ m s k l /, American Spanish: ()), sometimes spelled mescal, is a distilled alcoholic beverage made from any type of agave.The word mezcal comes from Nahuatl mexcalli [mekali], which means "oven-cooked agave", from metl and ixcalli [ikali]. When everyone who has a barn is firing up their still and making mezcal or tequila, how do you get people to buy yours? What I am learning is that it has a lot to do with heads-hearts-tails. We also asked co-founder of Mezcal Vago, Judah Kuper, the same question last year. teriyaki chicken donburi wagamama . Casamigos tequila takes things slow. To make it, you toast the worms and grind them up with sea salt and . Approximately 50 percent of women and 25 percent of men will break at least one bone in their lifetime as a result of osteoporosis. Yes, both tequila and mezcal are similar, so its easy to see how the mistake can be madebut there is no worm in tequila. So, choosing to drink mezcal every night in moderation may be something to consider. Our personal recommendations are El Cortijo reposado con gusano and Wahaka reposado con gusano. Worm salt is most commonly used during mezcal tastings but it can also be used for rimming mezcal cocktails and Mexican cooking as well. What perfect timing for this blog. While the flavor of the mezcal does indeed change as it ages, the aging in glass tends to enhance what is already present, making the mezcal more balanced, integrated, and settled. Despite its reputation, it doesn't have any hallucinogenic properties. By letting fresh air in every year or so, you are re-energizing the process.. 3: Grow Together, Harvested Together. In the 14th edition of its Report on Carcinogens, the National Toxicology Program declared that urethane was "reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen" based on evidence from animal-based lab studies. Luckily, the levels of ethyl carbamate in mezcal don't appear to be dangerously high. Definitely agree about them being less astringent and rounder on the palate. In a 2010 study published in Basic & Clinical Pharmacology & Toxicology, a team of researchers administered a pure citronellol extract to rats to see what effect it had on the rodents' blood pressure. If they see it in the mezcal bottle theyll buy it. The shelf life of mezcal is indefinite, but if mezcal develops an off odor, flavor or appearance, it should be discarded for quality purposes. Tequila has strict guidelines of bottling and production. Some stories claim theworm was added to some bottles of mezcal to demonstrate its purity. There are many traditions regarding the worm, including the worm releasing specific flavors to the mezcal. And while mezcal is generally less popular than tequila, at least in the U.S., it does seem to be on the rise thanks to bartenders and mixologists experimenting with it in a whole range of mixed drinks, as well as its competence as a little sipper served neat. I spent a weekend in Mexico City and drank too much mezcal. Our theory was that the air in the original bottle would have some impact on the aromas, flavor, and complexity of the mezcal over time. So, technically, it is a mezcal worm, not a tequila worm, because it is only found lying there dead in the bottom of a bottle of mezcal. The very name of this mezcal, Abacado Con Gusano, means 'Enriched with Worm', and they add that it's for 'for those who prefer the silky texture the agave worm adds to the Mezcal.'. These larvae are the same worms that you can find floating at the bottom of mezcal bottles. How long does mezcal last? Tequila is also. The fat and juices from the chicken add a savory undertone to the mezcal, while collagen from the meat gives it a more "robust mouthfeel.". Acetaldehyde is present in a distilled mezcal. Unfortunately, they didnt taste very good, but maybe they werent really all that enjoyable to begin with? I can attest to that, too. QuiQuiRiQui mezcal is handcrafted in Santiago de Matatln, Oaxaca state. However, it does affect the mezcal's flavor profile. The word "mezcal" comes from the term mexcalli. According to the University of WisconsinMadison, approximately 13 percent of men and 7 percent of women will experience at least one kidney stone in their lives, and having one kidney stone makes you 80 percent more likely to have another within the next ten years. Mezcal and the agave plant it comes from are both high in fructans, a type of carbohydrate. As far as the aged-in-glass goes, we find that the longer the mezcal sits (unopened), the more balanced and integrated it becomes. They are two things that will be forever associated together. Overall, the Rey Campero Tepextate was our favorite from the evening. If you're following a plant-based diet and want to try one of these brands, be sure to check the label carefully to make sure no meat was used in the distillation process. Given how often Ive been told that gusanos are an aphrodisiac, it doesnt take a great leap to imagine that someone, somewhere, would have thrown some gusanos into their finished mezcal to make a medicinal extract for erectile dysfunction vino de Viagra, if you will. But reallythe red one and the white one. In short, the worm that you see in a bottle of mezcal was a marketing gimmick. According to him, theres some sound science to the fact that mezcal would change over time, but we wanted some experiential evidence that it would indeed change for the better. Theories abound. And theres a lot of crossover between those two purposes, too. We love esters in spirits because they are associated with positive smells and flavors like banana, pineapple, and sugar. Flavors of cinnamon, sand, and slate. Jonny, Notes of clay. The worm has all sorts of mystical powers, people told me. A bit of nail polish on the palate as well. Jonny, Strong notes and aromas. But since the study wasn't performed on humans and didn't use geraniol specifically from mezcal, it's hard to say if the spirit would have the same mood-boosting effects. Limonene, one of the terpenes found in mezcal, could have cancer-fighting properties. Your shot amigo. Your email address will not be published. So it's best to stick with an alcohol that's naturally gluten-free, like mezcal. According to WebMD, limonene is also used in alternative medicine to treat obesity and bronchitis, but its effectiveness in treating these conditions has not been scientifically proven. Neither study focused on mezcal specifically, but it looks like your favorite Mexican spirit may be a double-edged sword when it comes to inflammation. I dont understand how it locks it up that way, but when it does it seems to give it a really good structure. We sipped cocktails and thought about what it should be. Created by workers? Zapotec economics are like Pemex; a 250ml bottle costs 400 pesos and a 750 is 1,200. He says; "If you open your bottles once a year or so and let new air in (assuming you did not drink it all), the mezcal will improve over time. Required fields are marked *, Copyright 2017. Of those, slightly more than half (51 percent) reported also feeling depressed, and 61 percent reported feelings of anxiety. Greg is a lover of agave spirits, handicrafts, and barware. Casamigos produces three styles of tequila: blanco, reposado, and aejo. Generally, weve found that older bottles tend to mellow and get better over time. Tequila is actually a kind of mezcal, in the same way that Cognac is a type of brandy. So tequila is a type of mezcal, but mezcal is not tequila, and only mezcal has worms. Yes, some bottles of mezcal include a creepy crawly surprise at the bottom, but no, it won't make you hallucinate if you drink mezcal and eat it. Mezcal (or mescal) is the same as thing as tequila, but it is not tequila at all. According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation, 10 million Americans have osteoporosis and another 44 million have low bone density, which puts them at risk of developing osteoporosis later in life. It's easy to see why it was an apt gimmick for touristsit appears both exotic and traditional, and givesdudes a testing ground for their masculinity. He sparked the worlds interest in the breadth and depth of traditional mezcal. Mezcalero No. And now, here are five mezcal con gusanos I recommend: For more tips and tricks from the worlds best bartenders, sign up for The Spill, a weekly guide to imbibing all good spirits. He says; If you open your bottles once a year or so and let new air in (assuming you did not drink it all), the mezcal will improve over time. In a 2006 paper published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, Dr. Antonio De Len-Rodrguez and colleagues took a close look at the chemical makeup of mezcal. His theory is based on what he's seen in his native Guerrero with another pest: the xumilin, or chumilin, a sort of south-of-the-border stinkbug. Fortune magazine reported that sales of mezcal rose 25 percent between 2014 and 2019, according to data fromIWSR, which tracks alcohol sales around the world. I recently picked up a Real Minero Espadin (batch #L-00401) with a harvest date of 2008. Mezcal Reviews on Twitter The fact that mezcal is a clear spirit also plays a role. According to a survey conducted in 2018 by the Mental Health Foundation, 74 percent of Americans felt so stressed they were "overwhelmed or unable to cope." Very similar, but more mellow and balanced. Jonny. Although, do bug guts have a flavor, per se? Cynics may chalk it up to marketing. It's also commonly used in Mexican cuisine, served fried in tacos or sometimes raw. For me, the search continues. Now you know the real story of the red maguey worm and mezcal. They can lead to kidney stones, which can be extremely painful and may require medical intervention to remove. I've learned that people who repeat these things are usually just trying to get someone to eat the worm, and they're lying. Weve seen several threads on Facebook, Reddit, and elsewhere over the years that have asked this question. My brand has absolutely nothing but organic agave and water,"Jimenez shared. It also had marginally lower ABV than the others. So, in addition to getting enough calcium, vitamin D, and exercise, you may want to consider deciding to drink mezcal every night to help strengthen your bones, especially if you're older. Terpenes serve numerous functions in plants, from attracting pollinators to helping to repair damage, but many are also bioactive in humans and may have positive health effects, including positive influences on "mood and stress levels.". ADVERTISEMENT Yet for the export market producers have found that wormless mezcal has no appeal. A Culinary Tour of France, With Dominique Crenn as Your Host, NFL Player Survey Reveals Leagues Worst Team and Its Not a Surprise. Chemically, mezcal and tequila are both similar and different, according toDe Len. As the name suggests, it also included the worm.. The former Breaking Bad co-leads are now liquor brand co-founders, bringing a little bit of Oaxaca to your bar cart with Dos Hombres mezcal. Tequila to be Tequila must contain 51% Blue Agave. All rights reserved. It's an aphrodisiac; it has hallucinogenic properties; it will make you drunker. The ovens are deep pits lined with lava rocks that are . Agave can yield both distilled and fermented drinks. Once a bottle of mezcal is opened, the contents may begin to evaporate slowly and some flavor may be lost over time, but the mezcal will remain safe to consume if it has been stored properly. Search on the internet and one answer comes up pretty frequently: that Jacobo Lozano Paez invented the idea in 1950 as a marketing angle for his brand, Mezcal Gusano de Oro. But if you dont want to go to the trouble of cooking the plant, you can just carve a huge hole into its center and harvest fresh, sweet sap. One day, no one will be able to con you into buying a bottle of bad tequila for three times what it's worth. Some of the ingredients in even smaller concentrations can affect the aromas and taste. A mezcal worm is an insect larva found in some types of mezcal produced in Oaxaca, Mexico. What happens when you eat the worm in mezcal? Remember that it is not the authentic Mezcal: the worm adds flavor and usually it masks lousy flavors. Tequila and mezcal are both in the range of about 38% to 55% ABV (Alcohol by Volume), which is 76-110 proof. Is it? The best way to enjoy it is to eat is separately or even cut it into halves and share it with your friends. Your body just recognizes the difference." Regardless of the vapors, Id think that tipping the bottles on their side once or twice a year should be enough to keep the cork moist enough to keep a good seal. While this is encouraging news for people (like us) who have dozens of bottles open at any given time, its intriguing that the Mezcalero No. Rather than pontificate, we decided to do some hard core research. Mezcal and tequila will stay deliciously enjoyable for years to come . Does oxidation or evaporation make them worse or just different? It adds nothing to the flavor of the liquor, most likely. It is a tasty snack in parts of Mexico. What you drank was most likely Mezcal with doubtful quality and it affects the reputation of authentic mezcal. Camille Austin, the global portfolio ambassador for Casa Lumbre Spirits, sang the praises of the agave plant in a 2019 interview with Maxim: "It is a plant that is made up of many organic compounds, or terpenes, commonly known as essential oils, that lend to the herbal, citrus and fruity flavors, as well as the 'magical' feeling we get when we drink mezcal. But it is pronounced mescal. According toTaste Atlas, these caterpillars are a great source of protein and have a taste similar to pork rinds. Aging in glass, however, imparts no new flavors. Acetaldehyde is present in a distilled mezcal. Most importantly, mezcal mustbe 100 percent agave, while tequila only needs to contain 51 percent agave. Chemically, mezcal and tequila are both similar and different. Green apple, pear, and lime-lemon predominate its primary aromas. Pairings with El Jolgorio and Rey Campero mezcals. So I guess you could call that pulque de gusano.. In 2014, a studyin the Journal of Medicinal Foodsuggested that agave fructans prevented bone loss and encouraged formation of new bone by raising calcium concentrations in both bone and circulating blood. "It's a local product," he told me in explanation as to why he pursued this research; he oncepublished an article in the local newspaper Pulso titled, "Mezcal from Potosi: a very Mexican drink.". The larva is usually either a gusano rojo ("red worm") or a chinicuil ("maguey worm"), the caterpillar of the Comadia redtenbacheri moth. This is the larva of the moth that lives in the heart of the agave plant. Now and then, when youre cutting [agave], you can find a xumilin or two in and around the plant, and usually there is mezcal available to those doing that work of harvesting the [agave], he says. Contrary to popular belief, the worm in mezcal isn't a worm at all, it's actually a larva. According to Anthony Dias Blue 's Complete Book of Spirits, that "worm" is. And awesome. To humans it usually smells like fresh-cut grass; for other species, it's a real-life aphrodisiac. The worm floating at the bottom of Mexican liquor bottles has confused many drinkers. Its a good selling point that it doesnt turn bad like wine. Cis-3-Hexen-1-ol doesn't have a sexy name, but it has some pretty sexy effects. There are two types of moth larva that can be used: the first from a beetle with red coloring known as Scyphophorus acupunctatus and the second from a Cossidae moth known as Comadia redtenbacheri. Worm salt is a mix of sea salt, ground agave larvae, and chile spices. Most likely the gusano wormed its way into these bottles to remind us that Mexicos culinary history is diverse and conflictive, informed by religion, local and global markets, regional taste, and sheer improvisation. These little mezcal fun facts are explained in detail. Stop. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is strictly prohibited. Some releases will be aged in glass for upwards of two or three years before being bottled for sales and general consumption. That espadin is 48-49% and the best to me was having a good mouthfeel with the agave flavor. There is no "worm" at the bottom of a Tequila bottle. Bingo!!! So on October 18, 2019 (seven months later), we performed a blind tasting, where we compared the original bottle with excess-air with the no-air re-bottled mezcal. One caveat: Sipping straight mezcal is safe, but, if you want to try a mezcal cocktail, you'll need to double-check that the other ingredients are also gluten-free. It didn't start appearing in commercialbottles until the 1940s or 50s, right around the time American tourists started to get hooked on the stuff. Mezcal: The history, craft & cocktails of the worlds ultimate artisanal spirit, Divided Spirits: Tequila, Mezcal and The politics of production. They're highly nutritious, easy and inexpensive to raise, and have much less of a negative environmental impact than other more familiar animal sources of protein, such as beef and pork. Overall, the Vago Elote showed slight differences between the two aged mezcals, but we all agreed that we preferred the Excess-air mezcal. We all preferred the No-air mezcal as it was a bit bolder and held a strong punch with its various notes and characteristics. When You Drink Mezcal Every Night, This Is What Happens To Your Body, it doesn't have any hallucinogenic properties, mezcal contains a terpene called geraniol, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), what happens to your body when you have a hangover. At any rate, love your passion and commitment!! Not to throw a fellow Chicagoan under the bus, but it appears this false narrative started with The Straight Dope columnist Cecil Adams in a 1999 piece. This condiment is made from the larvae that live in agave plants, which are what mezcal and tequila are made from. So, if your friends dare you to eat the gusano de maguey after a night of drinking and you're feeling particularly bold (or maybe just drunk), don't be afraid to give it a try. Mezcal is a distilled liquor made from the agave plant. It was much more mellow and all of the nail polish/alcohol notes had vanished over time, making this an incredibly rounded and balanced Elote. Crazy about gin? The race is on." 'That drink can't be rum and coke' Flowers. I do notice subtle differences; however, Im at the point where I never want to waste my money on any expression that has an acetone, overly alcohol, or leathery smell, from the get go. A bit funky with some burnt notes on the back of the palate. Tyler, Notes of ash and firewood on the nose and palate. Chris, Alcohol on the nose. And awesome. I like making a rotation with what im drinking (and small amounts at a time) so ill have several bottles over the next several years that fall will into the category of your experiment. Of the four mezcals included in this tasting, we preferred the Excess-air mezcal for three of them. The worm in mezcal is considered by most experts to be a gimmick intended to grab the attention of tourists. I dont know if this has any correlation to the aging part, but something I am keeping in mind. Another mention about the worm is in Sara Bowens research Divided Spirits: Tequila, Mezcal and The politics of production. While the study only examined the terpene in isolation and focused on rats rather than humans and did not examine mezcal specifically, the findings suggest that mezcal, which contains agave and thus citronellol, might be able to lower blood pressure in humans. Yes, when it comes to Mezcal, the worm at the bottom of the bottle has grown beyond a cultural phenomenon and into a world-renowned icon of sorts. It feeds on the maguey . Its also interesting to note that you dont see mezcal con gusano being made outside of Oaxaca. your aged in glass section above says this is a good thing but what about *hypothetically* many many years without opening a bottle? Mezcal Reviews on Instagram, Copyright 2016-2023 Mezcalerbro LLC Privacy Statement Terms of Use, Hacienda de Bauelos and Derrumbes Zacatecas, Mezcalosfera Tobala/Verde/Madrecuixe/Cuixe/Espadin Felipe Corts, Mezcal left in a bottle that has been opened will stay the same or actually improve, Mezcal left in a bottle that has been opened will improve to a certain point, but then go bad if there is too little mezcal left in the bottle, Mezcal left in a bottle that has been opened will eventually go bad. But the Mexican gourmands didnt stop at adding fruits to their pulque. However, under Mexican law the only distilled liquor of the agave plant that can be called tequila is the liquor distilled from the blue agave plant. We have drank it. Like so much of the beautiful cultural heritage of rural Mexico, theres little to no documentation to support any of the theories. These atoms are very chemically unstable and will essentially steal electrons from cells in the body. Unraveling mezcal's mysteries with chemistry is all well and good, but for De Len, there are some pleasures that just can't be explained. Youll often see special prized batches of mezcal aging in glass at palenques around Oaxaca. Instead of pairing mezcal with the . To be clear, all tequilas are mezcals but not all mezcals are tequilas. Yes, you can buy mezcal with a worm in the United States. Mezcal is a type of Mexican liquor that is made from the agave plant. Many people believe it tastes like chicken, but we tried it and found it had a flavor similar to almonds. Are your mezcals getting better as they age? As I drink down more of my open bottles, I am discovering this. I really appreciate how a good bottle will hide the high alcohol content. The worm is a moth larvae known as gusano de maguey (worm of agave) as it feeds off the agave plant. We werent sure. So, back to the drowned worm. So we know that time can play an integral role in improving mezcal, but what about other elements, like the amount of air in the bottle and the oxygenation and/or evaporation process that occurs when theres very little mezcal left in the bottle? Some have posited that oxygen or oxidization would have a negative impact on the spirits over time. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); With a database of over 1,500 bottles, Mezcal Reviews is the best place to find and review mezcal, destilados, sotol, raicilla, and more. So far, there's no evidence it has the same effect on humans. They found that none of them had an ethyl carbamate concentration that exceeded the international safety guideline of less than 0.15 mg/L. BOWEN, Sarah (2015), Divided Spirits: Tequila, Mezcal and The politics of production, University of California Press, California, USA. Reasons Behind Adding Worms In Mezcal. If you've been around enough mezcal, you'll start to notice that it's only the low-end bottles that still have the worm floating ominously at the bottom. Richards told The List,"Mezcal is naturally gluten-free, making it an alcohol ideal for anyone with a gluten intolerance or allergy. The mezcal worm is also used as a rite of passage when drinking mezcal with friends. Mezcal is one class of those spirits. How would drinking mezcal every night affect your body and mind? According to the Mayo Clinic, congeners are compounds that increase the likelihood and severity of a hangover. Despite the ick factor, the gusano de maguey at the bottom of a bottle of mezcal what we know as the worm is actually a very healthy snack. Older commercialized mezcal brands have not deviated from the pack of new generation mezcal producers. Interesting and funny that I did kinda the same thing with 4 Rey Campero Espadin bottles of different lots. Oxidative stress has been linked to the aging process and a number of chronic diseases and conditions. However, since the alcohol content of Mezcal and tequila is usually in the same range of 38% to 55% ABV, the shelf life of the two is roughly the same.