Drinks: mezcal – the “new” tequila

If there’s a drink you should sample post lockdown, it’s one of our amazing local agave spirits, says TASTE’s cocktail nerd, Jeanne Calitz. Sip it, don’t slam it, and prepare for enlightenment

What is agave?

Mezcal and tequila are both agave spirits and have been made for centuries in Mexico. Although tequila remains the best-known export, the last decade or so has seen a surge in mezcal consumption. Both spirits are made from the same plant – the agave – and tequila is actually a type of mezcal. Without going into too much detail: tequila is made using only one type of agave plant (the blue agave), and is normally steamed, while mezcal is made by “roasting” or smoking the piña, or heart, of the plants. In South Africa, we cannot call locally made agave spirits mezcal or tequila, as these trade names belong to Mexico. So look for descriptors such as “agave” or “agave spirit”.

Who’s making it?

• Leonista 100% Karoo Agave

Sarah Kennan makes four fantastic Karoo agaves in the mezcal style.

• The 4th Rabbit Made by winemaker Adi Badenhorst in the Swartland, this is a mezcal-style drink made using agave plants from Graaff Reinet.

• Hope Distillery’s Esperanza agave spirit A “tequila”-style distilled agave spirit made by the gin experts in Cape Town.

How do we drink it?

These spirits are meant to be savoured – they’re for sipping, not shots. Serve on the rocks, or in a classy cocktail. We’re not talking massive batches of margarita slushies here. There’s nothing wrong with a decent margarita (as long as you can get fresh lime juice), but there’s a whole range of elegant tequila cocktails out there, including the paloma.

PALOMA

This recipe is from Hope Distillery. It’s delicious made with their Esperanza.

mezcal or agave spirit 50 ml sugar syrup 20 ml rock salt a pinch lemon or lime juice 20 ml grapefruit juice 40 ml soda water 70 ml, for serving grapefruit, to garnish

Pour the spirit, sugar syrup, salt and lime juice into a highball glass filled with ice and stir. Add the grapefruit juice and soda water and stir briefly. Serve on the rocks, garnished with a wedge of lime or grapefruit.