Understanding Mezcal

As an avid mezcal enthusiast, I’ve read many books on the subject, but Understanding Mezcal stands out for its remarkable depth of information. It digs deep into the centuries-old craft of making mezcal — a time-honored, laborious process — and the diverse species behind the booze, blending technical details with conversational snippets about the place this old spirit holds in the cultural tapestry of Mexico. The author also sheds light on the history of mezcal and economics of the industry with evident respect for the people and place central to its production. Within a few hours, you’ll not only find yourself understanding mezcal but also falling in love with this complex spirit category.

I read anything I can get my hands on when it comes to Mezcal. Many of the books started to feel and sound the same - mostly a mix of, or one of the following: history of mezcal, production process, world of agave types, personal journey to discover mezcal. All fun to read, but this one was refreshing. He not only drives home at what makes mezcal "special", but why it's different...what sets it apart from other spirits. Often times from a scientific standpoint.His approach has a very nice balance between technical and casual. He digs deeper into certain topics without getting you lost in the weeds. There's pearls of wisdom and knowledge in here regarding topics that I mostly thought I understood. Questions that I've wondered about that are answered. Whether your a full on geek or newbie to mezcal, I highly recommend this one. Though be warned - you'll probably wish it was longer.

Mezcal has always been a “no mans land” for me. I love to drink it but don’t know much about it and much of the people that sell it to me don’t fully know what they’re talking about either. We all just know that it’s truly magical. This beautiful and complex spirit is one of the most confusing and illusive liquids on the market and this book has answers to everything I have ever wanted to know about it. The book is honest, thoughtfully written and is oozing with the author’s glaring love of Mezcal.I work in the service industry and I am now using this to better my career and to educate guests that come into my bar. Knowledge is power and this has electrified a passion in me for the world of Mezcal.

This is a great read that puts the intricacy of Mezcal and agave spirits into an easy to understand mix. This helped me solidify information for my YouTube channel Mezcal Buzz. It’s a book I continue to revisit and recommend to those who want to dive into the world of Mezcal

I love Mezcal . It's a Distilled Spirits that has been made more than 400 years before Tequila. It's old school and I prefer this than Tequila.

This turned out to be a very slim book... I expected many more pages.And what's with the cover artwork? Not sure how that relates to mezcal or agave.

A fantastic book written by one of the world's foremost agave experts. More academic in nature than many of the spirits/cocktail/etc. books on the market, and I mean that in a good way. Understanding Mezcal is less about personal stories and anecdotes and more about well-researched subject matter, with technical and ethnographic details abound. It covers both the process of creating mezcal as well as the place it holds in the collective culture of Mexico, while also touching on the economics of the industry, the history of agave spirits, the future of mezcal, and more.Highly recommended for anyone interested in agave spirits as well as anyone interested in traditional, artisanal products as a whole.

Best book I’ve found on Mezcal. Well written. I work in the industry and highly recommend