Mezcal Agave species

[tank]

I've seen mention of 8 to 16 agave species are used in mezcal production but I have yet to see a complete list of species names.

Does anyone know where to find such a list?

I have been thinking about mezcal lately because my few A. weberi's have become many and are speading out of the succulent bed and into the yard. They also seem to grow very quickly in my area. A. weberi is listed as one of the species used in mezcal production.

Also, does anyone know of a mezcal available in the states that uses weberi?

I hope this isn't too off topic for this forum!

[tank]

What I've got so far.

Mezcal agaves:

Agave angustifolia

Agave salmiana

Agave weberi

Agave asperrima

Agave potatorum

Is there a mezcal or tequila that is made from agaves grown in the US? I guess it would have to be named something else base on Mexican trade law.

[FRITO]

Interesting topic Jason. I dont have much info to add. I think Tad has some infos about agaves and Mezcal

Heres a link with some info peopl might find helpful: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mezcal

Agaves here are rare, however aI really love them. Can you show your Agave weberi?

[Alicehunter2000]

I know some of the higher end tequila's use "blue agave" in its production. Also, the agave fields were devestated a few years back (can't remember the reason) but much higher tequila prices were the result.

[STEVE IN SO CAL]

Agave Tequilana (see my avatar) is the only agave that tequila is made from. It is mashed and distilled.

Pulque or Mescal is produced by cutting out a 'bowl' shaped hole in the agve when it is getting ready to bloom(and full of sugar).

It ferments into a beverage that is more berr/wine like that tequila.

Usually the larger leaved plants are used(weberi, salmiana, atrovirens, etc)

[The Germinator]

There is a guy in Temecula area growing agaves for tequila production, but since it is not from Mexico he can not call it Tequila, I belive the name he uses is Temesquila. Not sure of the spelling.

[tank]

Production Tequila and Mezcal are made from basically the same process, although mass production has replaced the traditional methods with more efficient techniques, especially for tequila. As Steve stated, tequila is only produced from A. tequiliana (by Mexican law). Mezcal is basically the same liquor but is made from different agave species. Pulque, I believe, is a general term for the undistilled alcoholic beverage produced pretty much by the process Steve described. Distillation was brought over by Europeans.

[tank]

  The Germinator said:

There is a guy in Temecula area growing agaves for tequila production, but since it is not from Mexico he can not call it Tequila, I belive the name he uses is Temesquila. Not sure of the spelling.

I was wondering if folks in the US made an agave based liquor. I guess it would be hard to market it if you couldn't call it tequila or mezcal.

[tank]

  FRITO said:

Interesting topic Jason. I dont have much info to add. I think Tad has some infos about agaves and Mezcal

Heres a link with some info peopl might find helpful: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mezcal

Agaves here are rare, however aI really love them. Can you show your Agave weberi?

You can have some of my pups. Over the past three years I went from having one nice 5 gal weberi to having about 40 or 50. Some some of these pups are already bumped up to 3 gal pots. I'm definitely an agave novice, but weberi is far and above the most aggressive agave I have at the house. I now classify it as a weed.

I'll try and post a pic of the plant. Although it isn't as massive as some of the ones around town.

[Tad]

look up my mexico thread in the travel section, somwhere in the pages are pics of the agave plantation, and camp we use in mexico, I also have tequillianas for sale.

straight from the plantation!

Edited May 2, 2008 by palmotrafficante

[Palmetro]

  tank said:

What I've got so far.

Mezcal agaves:

Agave angustifolia

Agave salmiana

Agave weberi

Agave asperrima

Agave potatorum

Is there a mezcal or tequila that is made from agaves grown in the US? I guess it would have to be named something else base on Mexican trade law.

I know they also use Agave americana, Agave "espadin" and agave tobala in order to produce mezcal, and you are right, tequila and mezcal uses the same process the only diference is the agave they use, also in the mezcal procees they use wood to "cook" the agave, that s why it has that smoked taste on it.

[weldertom]

Interesting discussion. Making me very thirsty here in the office at 9:30 am , Houston time.....

I had a "cousin" of Tequila a couple of weeks ago made from Sotol. Gotta say it was really good, very herbal ...

Have any of you enjoyed Sotol?

Here is a little story I found.....

Sotol Moonshine story

Also -

Have any of you experienced "Castenadic Reptilian Response Syndrome" to enjoying fine tequila as I have?

[tank]

  palmotrafficante said:

look up my mexico thread in the travel section, somwhere in the pages are pics of the agave plantation, and camp we use in mexico, I also have tequillianas for sale.

straight from the plantation!

You starting you're own Texaquila operation?

Unfortunately A. tequiliana is pretty marginal in N. Florida. I have a couple that I planted out last Summer that got a bit crispy this winter. They'll be fine but currently look like crap.

[Cristóbal]

tequila and mezcal are same thing.

but only the liquor from area of tequila city, jalisco state, you can call tequila.

if its from diferent part of méxico, you can only call mezcal.

this is mexican law.