Monte Alban Mezcal, 70cl

Product Information

Vegan alcohol includes spirits, beer, wine and cider which are free from animal products. Like the food we eat, vegans choose to avoid non-vegan alcohol and any products with animal-derived ingredients. The most common non-vegan ingredients in alcohol are isinglass, made from the dried swim bladders of fish, gelatine, made from boiled bones, flesh and ligaments, casein, a protein derived from cow’s milk, and albumin from egg whites. Well today we’re going to put an end to that with this complete guide on everything you need to know about Mezcal. From what it is to how it’s made and all the resources you could ever imagine to explore this wonderful and somewhat mysterious Mexican spirit. What is Mezcal It’s not just a difficult process, but an expensive process. The good thing is that it ensures that what you’re drinking is true to tequila and is of high quality.

We @Agavache have a commitment to educate about the sensorial qualities of mezcal and the history and traditions around it. We know that Mezcal with a worm is an intriging topic and we’ll give you some advise because, Yes, of course! We have drank it. Verde Momento is a Mezcal made with 8-year-old organic espadin agave from the Oaxaca state in Mexico. You may be more familiar with its counterpart Tequila. Which is where the confusion usually comes in around the subject. Is Mezcal and Tequila the same thing? No, no its not. However, Tequila is more than just a party drink, its full of history, tradition and flavour. This association as a party drink is something that westerners very much have created themselves. Tequila is made with rigid standards. For starters, tequila can only be produced from blue agave, while mezcal can be made from 28 varieties of agave.

Why aren't some beers, wines and cocktails vegan?

I like to think of myself as the unpaid and unofficial global ambassador for all things tequila and agave even though I’m British through and through.

Turns out, you’ve been misled. Yes, tequila worms are real. And yes, you can still find them in bottles. There are a couple of things you need to know, though. However, you still may have some questions regarding how Mezcal is different from Tequila, whether Tequila and Mezcal are the same thing or maybe you’re just looking for an easier to compare post to see exactly where they differ. I’d love to talk about and appreciate mezcal without having to mention Tequila but alas, that’s just the way it is. If you’ve read my Tequila 101 guide: Everything you need to know about Tequila’ which is structured the same as this guide just about tequila, you will now be fully understanding of both spirits. Mezcal is still today very traditional. There is nothing techy about it, I mean come on, they crush the agave using a horse. It doesn’t get less techy then that!

Beer

Another mention about the worm is in Sara Bowen’s research « Divided Spirits: Tequila, Mezcal and The politics of production«. She points out the Mezcal brand Gusano Rojo (Red worm) who initiated the adding of worms to Mezcal, when in 1950 a employee got the idea to drop a worm into each bottle as a «distinctive touch». You may have heard an “expert” friend talk about how truly authentic tequila has a worm floating at the bottom of the bottle. Or maybe you’ve spotted a dusty bottle of Monte Alban (a mezcal that infamously contains said worm) at a dive where patrons joke about downing the worm as a test of machismo. But before you get duped by any of the myths surrounding this seemingly traditional practice, let’s set a few things straight, starting with why there’s a worm in tequila bottles: There isn’t. Contrary to popular belief, seeking out brands of tequila with a worm in the bottle isn’t going to help you find a more flavorful drink. The worm doesn’t add anything to the alcohol. I strongly believe that when people understand what tequila is and how its made, they can begin seeing tequila in another light, how its meant to be and fully start to enjoy and appreciate it for what it really is. What is Tequila

BARREL AGED - Rooster Rojo Reposado's gold colour comes from being aged for 2 months or more in French oak barrels before being bottled. This provides the spirits with a smoother taste while the wood adds hints of orange rind, enriching the flavour The fermented juice is then double distilled. Once to create mezcal and once to soften and perfect the flavours. The interesting way mezcal producer test the ABVOrigins to why it’s there in the first place are pretty murky but there are two stories that make sense. The first of which is simply a marketing ploy. Which to be fair, works wonders. When staring unknowingly at a shelf of mezcal it can be difficult to choose one. When there's a drowned worm in the bottom of the bottle that stands out, promotes curiosity and hence makes you want to buy it. The differences are the species of agave used and the production methods involved. The guide on Mezcal will give you an understanding of how that method differs from tequila production. I’ve also covered Bacanora and Raicilla in an article on agave spirits that are NOT tequila. Which can be difficult, especially in the UK where good mezcal is either non existent or vastly overpriced. But don’t worry, you can still buy good mezcal at a reasonable price here in the UK. Taste wise it’s got all the smoke you want from Mezcal with added grassy notes thanks to the espadin agave. They are also environmentally friendly, they plant 10 new agave plants for every 1 they harvest and invest 10% of there profits into ecological and social sustainability programmes

The two big name mixto tequilas you should avoid at all cost are sierra and Jose cuervo, these are the mixto tequila giving tequila a bad name. The fact is that tequila is one of the healthiest options you can drink. Agave is really good for you and although I’m not saying the best way to get agave is through tequila, its still present. There is a myth that has some truth in it which is drinking tequila and only tequila will not give you a hangover due to the liver flushing quality of agave. You may of already heard that tequila has to be made in Mexico and is made from the fermenting of agave and distilling of that liquid. But that’s not completely accurate, because there's a bunch of Mexican spirits that follow that same guideline. Everyone old enough to drink has a Tequila story. Whether its good or bad, about yourself or someone else, Tequila is without a doubt a memory making spirit. During that time I had a lot of recurring questions on the infamous worm. Is it alive? Why is it there? Does it taste of anything? Etc . And so I’ve answered those questions as well as a few more popular concerns below.

Wine

Some of which you may of heard of, enter mezcal which we just mentioned, some of which you may be unfamiliar with, especially if you’re from the UK or American, spirits like Bacanora and Raicilla. These are all spirits that have to be made in Mexico and are made with agave. The myth, the legend, the confusion of that floating worm inside our tequila bottles. Some of us have never even seen one other than in movies. Is it even a real thing? Does it still exist? I’m here to tell you that yes it does exist, and yes it is still a thing. Basically, they pour the liquid and can tell by how many bubbles appear, how fast they burst and how large they are what the exact abv is. Testing has been done and they are very accurate with this method. The reason people go wrong with this is by mixing tequila with sugary drinks or drinking mixto tequila which is not 100% agave. Aged at least three years. Extra añejos are dark like brandy and old Scotches, and very rich tasting. As you would imagine, these are also the more expensive style of Tequila.