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Understanding Agave Spirits: Tequila, Mezcal & Beyond
Agave spirits are among the most fascinating in the world — deeply tied to Mexican culture, biodiversity and indigenous distilling traditions. For bartenders, understanding agave means understanding terroir in a way few other categories offer. This guide covers what actually changes the liquid: place, method and maker.
Tequila: Transparency and Terroir with ArteNOM
Most tequila bottles don't tell you which distillery produced the liquid. ArteNOM is the exception: each expression is a single-distillery release identified by its NOM number. The Selección 1579 Blanco from the Highlands tastes different from the Selección 1146 Añejo from the Valley — different altitude, different wild yeast, different master distiller. That difference is real, and it is measurable in the glass. For an accessible, cocktail-first tequila, Tequila Pa' Todos Blanco rounds out the programme.
Mezcal: The Clay Pot Tradition
Don Amado uses Olla de Barro — ceramic clay pots unique to Santa Catarina Minas. The method predates copper-still adoption and produces mezcal with a distinctively earthy, mineral texture unavailable from copper. The Arellanes family are among the last practitioners of this ancestral technique at commercial scale.
Mezcal: The Tahona Tradition
La Escondida crushes pit-roasted piñas with a traditional tahona stone wheel. Tahona production is slower and more labour-intensive than mechanical milling but is considered to produce a richer, more textured character. Combined with open-air fermentation and copper pot distillation, La Escondida represents an authentic expression of Oaxacan mezcal craft.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the Highland vs Valley difference in tequila?
- Highlands (Los Altos) tequilas — like ArteNOM 1579 — tend toward more floral, mineral and elegant agave character due to higher altitude and cooler temperatures. Valley tequilas are often earthier, spicier and more herbal.
- Why does mezcal production method matter so much?
- Unlike tequila, which is more standardised, mezcal regulations allow wide variation in agave varieties, roasting, fermentation vessels, still types and techniques. Each combination produces a fundamentally different spirit.
- What should a bar's core agave line-up look like?
- A transparent blanco for cocktails, an aged expression for sipping, and at least one traditionally made mezcal — so the menu can tell the terroir story from Margarita to Mezcal Negroni.
Start your agave programme
Tequila Artenom
Tequila ArteNOM Seleccion de 1579
La Escondida
La Escondida - Mezcal Blanco
Tequila Pa Todos
Tequila Pa' Todos Blanco 70cl 40%
70 cl · 40% ABV