Scientists have observed a traditional mezcal process and modeled it using mathematics. Mezcal, made from cooked agave, is tested during fermentation by pouring and observing bubbles. The bubbles last ...

In the world of agave-based spirits, much of what we end up drinking is based around the careful cultivation of planned agave–or maguey–harvests, grown by commercial farmers. This has grown more true ...

You may have heard of, and perhaps even tried tequila, but it’s mezcal that takes center stage at a Santa Monica company. Mezcal is tequila’s smoky, more mysterious cousin. It’s a Mexican liquor that ...

Looking back at the last time the spirits panel tasted mezcal, I was shocked to realize that almost a decade had passed. The flavors and the sense of discovery we experienced still seemed so fresh.

For centuries, expert mezcal distillers have tested for “doneness” by examining the bubbles their brews produce. If the alcohol content isn’t just right—if it’s too low or too high—the bubbles go away ...