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Mezcal may seem like a hot, up-and-coming spirit, but it has been around for centuries. "It has a rich cultural history all over Mexico," says Max Reis, agave spirits expert and beverage director at MÃrate in Los Angeles. For most of its existence, mezcal was produced on a small scale to commemorate special occasions. Many mezcaleros (mezcal producers) still craft their mezcals using traditional techniques passed down through the generations.
There is a great deal of diversity in the mezcal world. Unlike tequila, it can be made in 9 different Mexican states from around 40 different species of agave. "In my eyes, if it's made from agave in Mexico, it's a mezcal," says bartender and agave spirit educator Lucas Assis. Each species of agave, as well as those grown in different microclimates, imparts a different flavor profile.
Mezcal represents the history and culture of Mexico distilled into a bottle. And with a country as geographically and culturally diverse as Mexico, its national spirit is equally as complex and rich. Here are the 8 best bottles of mezcal according to spirits experts.
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