Mezcal Was Never Meant to Behave

A beginner’s guide to the spirit with ancient roots that survived outlaw status and bureaucracy, not to mention most of human history — and still tastes like tradition, terroir, and a tiny kiss.

If someone once handed you a glass of mezcal and said, “It’s like tequila but smokier,” bless their heart—but they left out most of the story. Mezcal is not just a spirit—its proof that flavor can outlast empire. From colonial bans to modern red tape, mezcaleros have kept the fire alive—crafting wild, smoky, small-batch agave spirits by hand, despite g…