What’s with the worm?: Tequila vs. mezcal | Nooga.com What’s with the worm?: Tequila vs. mezcal By Laura Kelton - Published on February 1, 2013 As some of you may know, I have an affinity for the tequila family. And though I generally try to gear my consumption of it toward the warmer months, I find its cousin, mezcal, to be perfect at this time of year. Smoke on the Water. (Photo: Staff) Now more than ever, people are asking, “What exactly is mezcal ?” With its popularity on the rise in the ever-growing world of cocktails, I thought I’d share what I’ve come to know about the spirit. Like tequila, mezcal is a distillate of the agave plant. Though tequila must be made in Jalisco from 100 percent blue agave, mezcal production is widespread throughout Mexico, but the best is said to come from Oaxaca. Other than the place of production and specified agave species used to make them, the distinguishing factor between these two is the way in which the agave juice, or aguamiel, is extracted.

The process begins by stripping the agave plant down to its piña, named for the pineapple fruit that it resembles. At this point, the piña is cut into pieces and cooked in an oven to convert the starch into sugar. Although tequila is cooked in a steam oven, the piñas that produce mezcal are cooked in underground ovens fueled with wood charcoal, giving the spirit a distinct smokiness when it is done. These cooked piñas are then shredded to obtain the aguamiel. Mezcal recipes .5 oz lime juice Mint Shake all ingredients with ice and double strain over ice in a cocktail glass. Garnish rim with smoked paprika salt. What you have at this point is a much more extracted version of what the Aztecs had discovered nearly 2,000 years ago when they enjoyed the juice of the agave plant after it had been left out and fermented. This “pulque” was mildly alcoholic, but after some trial and error distilling the agave juice, it seems they got it right. After the aguamiel is left to ferment, it will be distilled in a pot still and later cut with water.

Some tequilas undergo numerous distillations in order to create a cleaner product, but unfortunately, this can also lead to a bland product. Most tequilas do not undergo more than a couple distillations. The best likening I can give you if you have never experienced mezcal is that it is to tequila what scotch is to whiskey: made of a similar distillate, but controlled steps in the process give it a distinguishing smoky character. Razor Ramon. (Photo: Staff) Contrary to what most people do know about mezcal, there is not always a worm in the bottom of the bottle. It can, however, be a distinguishing factor between high-end and bottom-shelf mezcals. The worm is supposed to be an indication of the proof of the liquor, not the quality. It’s understood that a spirit of a higher proof would be able to preserve the worm as a whole. My suggestion is to avoid any bottle with a worm in the bottom. My first experience with mezcal was Sombra , made by Charles Bieler and Richard Betts . Both of the brand's founders hail from the world of wine, and the craft that goes into making this brand is a testament to that.

It is robust and heavily smoked with a mesquite essence that is mildly floral. I had a chance to meet Charles Bieler a few summers ago and talk to him about some changes they made in the brand to achieve a different flavor. What is interesting is that, much like wine country, the territory of the agave fields will greatly impact the finished product. Other brands I would recommend include any of the products from Del Maguey or Los Nahuales . The Del Maguey line specifically focuses on single-village mezcals to show how different the product can taste from place to place. Mezcal cocktails intrigue me because they can go in so many different directions. The best pairings I have found for these smoky gems are rich and bitter, acidic and floral, and savory and spicy. Try it in a Bloody Mary or Negroni if you want to stick with the classics. You can also find my recipe for the Razor Ramon and Sara Keith’s recipe for the Smoke on the Water in the sidebar. Happy imbibing! Laura Kelton is a recent graduate of UTC and currently runs the bar program at Easy Bistro & Bar. Feel free to reach out to her by email with any questions, comments or requests.

The opinions expressed in this column belong solely to the author, not Nooga.com or its employees. Recent Posts Mezcal Worm - not the Tequila Worm Mezcal Worm - not the Tequila Worm Tequila bottles do not contain a worm or gusano - only some Mezcal bottles. If you are looking for a bottle with a worm, don’t look for it in a bottle of Tequila—only Mezcal is bottled with a worm. Mezcal is not the same as Tequila — the two should never be confused. Tequila is made exclusively from the blue agave plant, whereas Mezcal can be distilled from blue agave, in addition to the other varieties of maguey plant native to the area. The use of the worm, or gusano is exclusive to Mezcal , since the Mexican standards authority, NOM, prohibits adding insects or larvae to tequila. It seems to be a rite of passage for many to take that first shot of Mezcal or to eat the worm at the bottom of the bottle.

When you drink a bottle of Mezcal con gusano -- "with worm", what you actually have in your bottle is the larva of one of two moths that live on the maguey plant. It is a mariposa worm, which feeds on the agave plant, from which Mezcal is made. There are two types of worms found in Mezcal: the red, gusano rojo—considered superior because it lives in the root and heart of the maguey plant—and the less-prized white, or gold, gusano de oro, which lives on the leaves. In order to tell which worm is in your bottle, check out its coloring. The red gusano turns pale in the Mezcal and the gold turns ashen-gray. While shopping for Mezcal, you may also come across a Mezcal bottle with a small bag of worm salt and chile powder tied to it. Keep in mind, that as a rule, top-quality Mezcals do not include a worm in the bottle. Are you wondering if you’re supposed to eat the worm in Mezcal?

Yes, in fact, it’s quite well pickled and free of pesticides as the worms are often raised just for use in Mezcal, cooked and pickled in alcohol for a year. Aside from its use in Mezcal, the maguey worm is considered a delicacy in Mexico. The larvae are commonly eaten as food. They can be found on some restaurant menus and are sold in Zapotec markets. The worm is harmless to consume and it is believed in certain traditions that doing this is beneficial to the spirit and locks in the vigor of Mezcal. Today the urban legend of the tequila worm continues to survive and eating the worm has become a rite of passage for many. You may wonder how the legend got started. Back in the 1940’s, some American-bottled brands of Mezcal came up with a marketing ploy. Stemming from the myth that the worm has magical and aphrodisiac properties, they decided to put a worm in their bottle to impress the gringos and boost sales.

Although, the truth about the tequila worm has been acknowledged and exposed for years by the cognoscenti of tequila, in newspapers, magazines, as well as on the internet, the legend continues to thrive. The truth is that even though the worm can soak up a little of the alcohol, eating the worm has no noticeable effect on people. In addition, to using the worm as a marketing strategy, there is another reason claimed for adding the worm to the bottle of Mezcal. The claim is that the worm serves as evidence of the high proof of the Mezcal, as the percentage of alcohol in the spirit is high enough to preserve the pickled worm. This declaration is debatable. Whatever the reason, Mezcal is still notorious for the worm in the bottle. According to Ian Chadwick, “It's almost impossible to disassociate Mezcal today from the worm, although it is a comparatively recent relationship, and not a traditional accompaniment.” The worm-spiced Mezcal is a novelty item and has worldwide appeal.

Whether it is the imagery and legends of the worm that appeals to rugged men or the belief that the worm is an aphrodisiac, the worm at the bottom of a bottle of Mezcal makes this spirit more than just another bottle of booze. Sources for more information: Alcohol Jokes - Alcoholic Jokes Alcohol Jokes Back to: Dirty Jokes | Back to: Bar Jokes Q: What is a man's idea of a balanced diet? A: A Budweiser in each hand! Q: Whats the difference between Amy Winehouse and Captain Morgan? A: Captain Morgan comes alive when you add coke! Q: What did the bartender say after Charles Dickens ordered a martini? A: "Olive or twist?" Q: What did the bartender say after a book walked into the bar? A: "Please, no stories!" Q. Why did God invent Jameson whiskey? A. So the Irish would never rule the world! Q: What do Russians get when mixing Holy Water with Vodka? A: The Holy Spirit! Q: What did the man with slab of asphalt under his arm order? A: "A beer please, and one for the road." Q: You know what's fun about being sober?

A: Nothing. Q: Why did Mexicans create tequila? A: So ugly people would have a chance at having sex! Q: What do you get when you mix English class with alcohol? A: Tequila Mockingbird Q: What has eight arms and an IQ of 60? A: Four guys drinking Bud Light and watching a football game! Q: How can you tell if someone Amish is an alcoholic? A: They keep falling off the wagon. Q: How many men does it take to open a Budweiser bottle? A: none. the lady should already have it open on the table! Q: How can you find the guy who drank a case of Coors Light? A: He's the one dancing like an asshole! Q: How do you know a man is really really gay? A: When he's nursing a Bacardi Breezer! Q: What's the difference between a G-Spot and a bottle of Jack Daniels? A: A guy will actually SEARCH for a bottle of Jack Daniels. Q: How does a man show he's planning for the future? A: He buys two cases of Miller Lite instead of one. What's the cure for marriage? Answer: Alcoholism.

Q: Why does Corona go through your system so fast? A: Because it does not have to stop to change color Q: Whats the difference between a dog and a fox? A: 2 drinks. Q: How do you find a man in a bar who is sensitive, caring and good looking? A: He's nursing a Mike's Hard Lemonade and is acting super super gay! Q: What is the difference between a sofa and a man watching Monday Night Football? A: The sofa doesn't keep asking for Bud Light! Q: What is the similarity between Michelob Ultra and having sex in a rowboat? A: They are both SO close to water! Q: What do you say when you're gonna drunk dial someone? A: Al-cohol you Q: What do blondes and bottle of Corona have in common? A: Their both empty from the neck up! Q: Why are Men like coolers? A: Load them with Bud Light, and you can take them anywhere! Q: What does a shot of Everclear and a Woman have in common? A: Both of them make men start talking nonsense! Q: Where do monkeys go to drink? A: The monkey bars! Q: Why don't Democrats drink?

A: It interferes with their suffering! Q: What happens when you cross a gynecologist drinking Pabst Blue Ribbon Beer and sexy blonde drinking Smirnoff Vodka? A: a "Pabst Smir!" Q: How do you start a parade in the ghetto? A: Roll a 40 down the street. Q: How do you know when you really pissed off your Bartender? A: She leaves the string in the Bloody Mary! Q: Why doesn't Simon Cowell drink whiskey? A: Because it makes him mean! Q: What does an alcoholic ghost drink? A: BOO'S Q: What do you call a man with a shot of whiskey on his head? A: A taxi. Clearly, he's had too much liquor and is being a nuisance. What is the difference between an alcoholic and drunk? A drunk drinks until he passes out, an alcoholic drinks till the house burns down with them in it.

A bee goes into a bar, It comes out 2 hours later buzzing Boy: "I love you so much, I could never live without you." Girl: "Is that you or the beer talking?" Boy: "It's me talking to the beer." Mayan: Hey wanna drink? Other Mayan: I'm working on this calendar, but I guess if I don't finish it won't be the end of the world. Alcohol should be served in Capri Sun pouches. When you can't get the straw in the hole you've had enough. Why did the girl blow chunks all over the house? She wasn't party trained. Hear about the wall that went out on the town for its birthday?... Got plastered... Alcohol doesn't turn people into somebody they're not. It just makes them forget to hide that part of themselves. Life and beer are very similar .....chill for best results. I'm not an alcoholic. Alcoholics need a drink, but I already have one. Beauty is in the eye of the beer holder. If you drink too much alcohol you are an alcoholic. If you drink too much Fanta, does that make you Fantastic?

I don't recycle because it makes me look like a huge alcoholic to my garbage man. I'm not an alcoholic alcoholics go to meetings, I'm a drunk, we go to parties. Alcohol doesn't make you fat... it makes you Lean...... on tables, chairs & random people. My body is not a temple.....it's a distillery with legs. No! for the last time stop asking if i am drunk. I am not drunk! Who would name their kid drunk? You say alcoholic, I'll say alcohol enthusiast Take me drunk I'm home. Anyone who says that alcohol is a depressant isn't drinking enough of it. When life hands you lemons, find someone with tequila and salt! Dont drink and drive, it will spill everywhere A hangover is the wrath of grapes. I've been told I've got A.D.H.D (Alcohol Drinking and Hangover Disorder) It's true alcohol kills people, but how many are born because of it? Alcohol is never the answer... But it does make you forget the question. A man's got to believe in something. I believe I'll have another drink. My doctor told me to watch my drinking, so now I drink in front of a mirror.

"Relationship" has 12 letters but then again so does "Time For Shots" Confucious says, "Man who drink beer all day, have Wet Dreams all night". What doesn't kill me, makes my drinks stronger I started drinking very young. My first DWI was on a Big Wheel. Listen, I'm not an alcoholic, alcoholics go to meetings. I'm a drunk, we go to parties. Alcohol is my worst enemy, but the bible says to love your enemy... Some things are better left unsaid, but I'll probably get drunk and say them anyways I was going to write a joke about alcoholic midgets but I don't want to lower the bar. Chemically speaking, alcohol is a solution. Yo mamas so dumb when I said "Drinks on the house." She got a ladder I don't have a drinking problem. I drink because I have problems. Two midgets walk into a mini-bar. If you drink and drive, don't forget your car. If you can't drink and drive, why do you need a driver's license to buy alcohol. You lost me at "non-alcoholic" I'm a recovering alcoholic. Or as my mate describes me, hungover.

Money can't buy happiness. Just kidding yes it can, if that money is used to buy alcohol. I'm in a commited relationship with Jim Beam. I was drinking at the bar last night, so I took a bus home...That may not be a big deal to you, but I've never driven a bus before. An alcoholic hits his woman, a stoner hits it with his woman. I'm not alcoholic, I only drink twice a year. When it's my birthday, and when it's not my birthday. Why is it called Alcoholics Anonymous when the first thing you do is stand up and say, "My name is Tom and I'm an alcoholic?" A guy offers a girl a drink, but the girl says alcohol is bad for her legs, The guy ask "Do they swell?" The girl replies "No they spread" A woman walks up to an obnoxious drunk at a bar and tells him, "If you were my husband, I'd poison your drink." The man replies, "If you were my wife, I'd drink it." A Shot of Whiskey A man walks into a bar and orders a shot of whiskey then looks into his pocket. He does this over and over again.

Finally, the bartender asks why he orders a shot of whiskey and afterwards look into his pocket. The man responded, "I have a picture of my wife in there and when she starts to look good then i'll go home." Bar One Liners A hamburger walks into a bar and the bartender says, "Sorry, we don't serve food in here." A horse walks into a bar. The bartender says, "So, why the long face?" A skeleton walks into a bar and says, "Gimme a beer, and a mop." A soccer ball walks into a bar. The bartender kicked him out. A magician walks down an alley and turns into a bar. A man walks into a bar. OUCH! You would have thought he would have seen it! A dyslexic guy walks into a bra. A neutron walks into a bar and orders a beer. The bartender sets the beer down and says, "For you, no charge!" An Irishman walks out of a bar. Hey, it COULD happen! A man gets off work goes across the street,walks into a bar...and about 20 minutes later, he comes too with a massive headache...

Homeless Man A man was walking through a rather seedy section of town, when a bum walked up to him and asked the man for two dollars. The man asked, "Will you buy booze?" The bum replied, "No." Then the man asked, "Will you gamble it away?" The bum said, "No." Then the man asked the bum, "Will you come home with me so my wife can see what happens to a man who doesn't drink or gamble?" Drunk Driving It seems a gentleman had too much alcohol at a party, was heading home, and was pulled over by a state trooper. Upon being tested, the fellow couldn't walk a straight line any more than he could drive one, so the trooper wrote out a ticket and had just given it to the driver before an accident in the opposite lane took his attention to more important matters. The inebriated driver, figuring that the trooper wasn't coming back to him, drove home and went to bed. He was awakened in the morning by a knock at the door, created by two more state troopers. "Are you Mr. Johnson?" the asked? He admitted that he was.

"Were you pulled over at Main Street last night for driving under the influence?" Again, the man admitted that was he. "And what did you do then," the troopers asked." The man replied that he drove his car home and went to bed. "Where is your car now?" the troopers enquired. The man answered that it was in the garage. "May we see the car?" asked the troopers. The man answered, "Sure," and opened the garage. Inside the garage was the state troopers car. Moral Of the Story One day at the end of class little Billy's teacher has the class go home and think of a story and then conclude the moral of that story.... The next day Billy tells his story.... "My dad fought in the Vietnam war, his plane was shot down over enemy territory. He jumped out before it crashed with only a case of beer, a machine gun and a machete. On the way down he drank the case of beer. Unfortunately he landed right in the middle of 100 Vietnamese soldiers.

He shot 70 with his machine gun, but ran out of bullets, so he pulled out his machete and killed 20 more, but the blade on his machete broke, so he killed the last ten with his bare hands" Teacher looks in shock at Billy and asks if there is possibly any moral to his story....Billy replies, "Yeah... don't mess with my dad when he's been drinking Drunk Husband A wife was in bed with her lover when she heard her husband's key in the door. "Stay where you are," she said. "He's so drunk he won't even notice you're in bed with me." Sure enough, the husband lurched into bed none the wiser, but a few minutes later, through a drunken haze, he saw six feet sticking out at the end of the bed. He turned to his wife: "Hey, there are six feet in this bed. There should only be four. What's going on?" "Nonsense," said the wife. "You're so drunk you miscounted. Get out of bed and try again. You can see better from over there." The husband climbed out of bed and counted. "One, two, three, four.

You're right, you know." Wino The drunken wino was stumbling down the street with one foot on the curb and one foot in the gutter. A cop pulled up and said, "I've got to take you in, sir. You're obviously drunk" The wasted wino asked, "Ociffer, are ya absolutely sure I'm drunk?" "Yeah, buddy, I'm sure," said the copper. "Let's go." Obviously relieved, the wino said "That's a relief - I thought I was a cripple." Police Patrol From the state where drunk driving is considered a sport, comes this absolutely true story. Recently a routine police patrol parked outside a bar in Fort Worth, Texas. After last call the officer noticed a man leaving the bar so intoxicated that he could barely walk. The man stumbled around the parking lot for a few minutes, with the officer quietly observing. After what seemed an eternity in which he tried his keys on five different vehicles, the man managed to find his truck and trailer and fall into it. He sat there for a few minutes as a number of other patrons left the bar and drove off.

Finally, he got into the car and started the engine, switched the wipers on and off....it was a fine, dry summer night, flicked the blinkers on and off a couple of times, honked the horn and then switched on the lights. He moved the vehicle forward a few inches, reversed a little and then remained still for a few more minutes as some more of the other patrons' vehicles left. Finally, when his was the only car left in the parking lot, he pulled out and drove slowly down the road. The police officer, having waited patiently all this time, now started up his patrol car, put on the flashing lights, promptly pulled the man over and administered a breathalyzer test. To his amazement, the breathalyzer indicated no evidence that the man had consumed any alcohol at all! Dumbfounded, the officer said, 'I'll have to ask you to accompany me to the police station. This breathalyzer equipment must be broken.' 'I seriously doubt it', said the truly proud Hillbilly. 'Tonight I'm the designated decoy.' Worms A father was trying to teach his young son the evils of alcohol.

He put one worm in a glass of water and another worm in a glass of whiskey. The worm in the water lived, while the one in whiskey curled up and died. "All right, son." asked the father, "what does that show you?" "Well, Dad, it shows that if you drink alcohol, you will not have worms." Better Boyfriend Two girls were comparing boyfriends. "Mine's the best," said the first. "I call him Seven-Up because he's 7 inches long and he's always up!" "Oh yeah," exclaimed the other, "I call my boyfriend Jack Daniel's because he's the best hard licker there is!" Just Looking There was this guy at a bar, just looking at his drink. He stays like that for half of an hour. Then, this big trouble-making truck driver steps next to him, takes the drink from the guy, and just drinks it all down. The poor man starts crying. The truck driver says, "Come on man, I was just joking. Here, I'll buy you another drink. I just can't stand to see a man cry." "No, it's not that. This day is the worst of my life.

First, I fall asleep, and I go late to my office. My boss, outrageous, fires me. When I leave the building, to my car, I found out it was stolen. The police said that they can do nothing. I get a cab to return home, and when I leave it, I remember I left my wallet and credit cards there. The cab driver just drives away." "I go home, and when I get there, I find my wife in bed with the gardener. I leave home, and come to this bar. And just when I was thinking about putting an end to my life, you show up and drink my poison." Alcoholic Pick Up Lines "Girl, this isnt a beer belly, its a fuel tank for my love machine! Here is $30. Drink until I am really good looking, then come to talk to me. Your one tall glass of Labatts Blue and I'm real thirsty. Girl, I would buy you a drink but I'd be jealous of the glass. "Baby, you put the 'hot ass' in my shot glass. I'm not drunk, I'm just intoxicated by you.

(After spilling a beer on a pretty lady) Did you just take a shower or is it me that's making you wet? Hey, you owe me a drink. I dropped mine when you walked past. Toasts Here's a toast to the nights we wont remember with the friends we'll never forget. To Summer, Alcohol, and Friends! Friends that drink together, stay together Our hangovers will last a day, but the memories we make tonight will last a lifetime. ALL ABOUT TEQUILA All About Tequila We collected an assortment of tequila related information during annual visits to Jalisco (2009 through 2013), as well as from a variety of Internet sources. Background music courtesy of Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers was added in 2012. For more details, click on the above link to SOURCES and NOTES. BACKGROUND MUSIC CONTROLS INTRODUCTION Tequila is an agave-based spirit made primarily in the area surrounding Tequila, Jalisco, 65 kilometers (40 miles) in the northwest of Guadalajara and in the highlands (Los Altos) of the western Mexican state.

The volcanic soil in the region surrounding Tequila is particularly well suited to the growing of the cactus-like blue-agave, and more than 300 million of the plants are harvested there each year.[1] However, Mexican laws state that tequila can be produced only in the state of Jalisco and limited regions in the states of Guanajuato, Michoac&#225n, Nayarit, and Tamaulipas Tequila sold in Mexico most often contains an alcohol content of 38% (76 proof). Tequila sold in the United States is most often made at a 40% alcohol content (80 proof), but there are also several varieties of tequila produced with 35-50% alcohol content (70-100 proof). TEQUILA HISTORY, TRIVIA & MYTH Tequila - the beverage associated with Mexican ranchers, cowboys and bandits - has migrated into the hands of mainstream America. Premium tequilas have risen steadily in status over recent years and are now seated on the top shelf along side other fine spirits such as cognac and scotch.

Sure, many folks still mix tequila in margaritas or slam it down with salt and lime, but a growing mass of people from all walks of life are discovering fine tequila can be enjoyed in sipping style. In part, tequila earned its rowdy reputation by appearing at frat parties where obnoxious behavior and next-day hangovers are common. This won&#39t change anytime soon, however, many have realized there is another side to this intriguing spirit. Tequila&#39s history and culture is deeply rooted in Mexico&#39s heritage. Long before the arrival of Conquistadors, the natives were making a fermented beverage called &#34pulque&#34. This vitamin rich drink was made from fermented sap extracted from the heart of the Maguey plant (one of numerous varieties of agave). In addition to making pulque, the natives made clothing, rope, mats and paper from the long fibers of the maguey leaves. The sharp tips of the leaves were used as tacks or needles for sewing clothing. The maguey, one of Mexico&#39s most sacred plants, had a prominent place in religious ceremonies and rituals.

The transformation of pulque, tequila&#39s predecessor, to something stronger occurred in the 1500s when the Spaniards introduced the distillation process to the region. When the Spanish conquistadors ran out of their own brandy, they began to distill this agave drink to produce North America&#39s first indigenous distilled spirit.[4] Pulque was distilled to make mezcal wine, also known as agave wine. This product continued to evolve into what we now call Tequila. It shares the name with a small town located in the state of Jalisco, where the blue agave thrives and much of tequila is made today. The origin of the word tequila is a bit of a mystery. It is said to have derived from an ancient Nahuatl term meaning &#34the place of harvesting plants" or &#34a place to pay tribute." The word tequila is also said to mean &#34the rocks that cut." There is an extinct volcano (called Tequil&#225n) near the town of Tequila. The indigenous natives who trekked throughout this region routinely experienced cuts on their feet from the obsidian-laced terrain.

The obsidian was used by the natives in ancient times to make sharp tools and weapons. Although the first tequila production was reported in the 1600s, some experts argue it was being produced several years earlier by some haciendas for their personal use. Production was done behind closed doors because if caught, the hacienda would be forced to pay taxes to the Spanish crown. [35] There is also some debate as to where tequila was first produced. Some believe it occurred in the town of Tequila, some say it was in Amatit&#225n, and others think it was in Arenal. Unfortunately, there are no documented sources for either of these versions. It has been claimed (and disputed) that a wealthy landowner from the region of Tequila, Don Pedro S&#225nchez de Tagle, marquis of Altamira, was the first to compile the different traditional techniques to plan an industry with a better production process. He was also the first to plant agave exclusively to make mezcal wine.

Some believe there was enough water for such an industry in Tequila, but not in Amatit&#225n.[40] Miguel Claudio Jimenez Vizcarra explains a different story in his document "ORIGIN AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE AGRO-INDUSTRY OF MEZCAL SPIRITS CALLED TEQUILA." He believes the Indians living in the Tecuane Canyon near Amatitan were producing mescal wine around the year 1540. Ruins of possibly the oldest production area have been discovered at this location. Some believe this production area actually included a crude distillation process. There is a natural water source in the Tecuane Canyon area to support the production of mezcal wine/tequila. We (Tequila Connection) visited the ruins and took some photos. Read more on this topic by visiting our World Tequila Day page &#40Scroll down to &#34Disputing Tequila&#39s Oringins") and view photos of the Tecuane Canyon production site by selecting the Tecuane Canyon link at our Photo Gallery Selection Page. José Antonio Cuervo was the first licensed manufacturer.

In 1758 the King of Spain granted Senior Cuervo the rights to cultivate a parcel of land. The agave fields have been growing in numbers ever since. In 1997, Cuervo&#39s output reached 37 million liters of tequila, of which 76% was exported. Cuervo remains the largest producer and exporter of tequila today.[36] In 1858, Don Cenobio Sauza visited the town of Tequila and quickly fell in love with this magical place. He gained skills in agave farming and learned about production while working at the Cuervo Distillery. He later bought his own distillery and founded Sauza Tequila, becoming one of Cuervo&#39s great rivals. Don Cenobio&#39s grandson, Don Francisco Javier, gained international attention for insisting that tequila can only be made from the Weber Blue Agave.

Tequila first made its debut in the United States in 1873, exported by the fabrica of Don Cenobio Sauza.[37] In the 1630s Mexican vendors (traveling on donkeys from pueblo to pueblo selling goods) helped spread the word of the new drink called mezcal wine. [38] However, tequila would not gain its due respect for hundreds of years. After 1821 when Mexico attained independence, Spanish products became increasingly difficult to obtain, opening the door for tequila to flourish. Tequila became a symbol of national pride during the Mexican Revolution. French products were cast aside, replaced by a patriotic desire to support Mexican goods. In addition, prohibition in the USA had positive impact to tequila&#39s popularity and demand was on the rise as it was smuggled across the border. Demand spiked again in the USA during World War II when spirits from Europe became scarce. Increased production during this period brought on the need for governmental oversight. This led to the creation of two entities which have since transformed into Mexico&#39s present-day regulatory organizations. In the mid 1900s, Mexico was staking its claim.

Through years of effort, international treaties and agreements, Mexico gained acceptance and recognition as the only country that can legally produce &#34Tequila&#34. Mexico established strict regulations to ensure tequila is produced within specified guidelines in order to maintain a level of quality. To be called Tequila, it must contain at least 51% agave tequiliana Weber, variety azul. However, most premium tequilas are made from 100% blue agave, and this is normally indicated on the label. TEQUILA MYTHS Although Mexico&#39s tequila is rich in culture, history and legend, it is also confused and misunderstood. Many people think tequila is made from a cactus. This is a myth. Tequila is made from the Weber Blue Agave, a succulent plant related to the lily and amaryllis. It grows in a cactus-like environment, but it is not a cactus. The blue agave has a life-span of 7-15 years, stands 2 or more meters tall, and has a diameter of 2-4 meters. Another source of confusion is the difference between Mezcal and Tequila.

Mezcal (from the Nahuatl word, Mexcalmetl) is known to be any distilled beverage made from the maguey (agave) family of plants. Thus, tequila is technically a type of mezcal, but mezcal is not a type of tequila. They are considered two distinct products. Mezcal is made from over two dozen agave species including Tobala and Espadin. Mezcal can be produced from the Weber Blue Agave, although this variety is primarily used for making tequila. The (traditional) production process is also different. For mezcal, the agave hearts are baked in rock-lined underground pits, covered with fiber mats and earth. This technique gives mescal a smokier flavor. Mezcal generally has a stronger bite than tequila, and is consequently less popular. However, mezcal producers are increasingly changing to a production process similar to that of tequila, hence mezcal today can be much smoother and refined compared to years past. As of 2015, there are several hundred brands of tequila and over 150 brands of mezcal being produced (and certified) in Mexico.

Similar to tequila, mezcal generally has an alcohol content of 38-40&#37. Tequila is made primarily in the state of Jalisco in west-central Mexico. Mezcal is produced primarily in the state of Oaxaca, in southern Mexico. Another myth is that tequila has a worm in the bottle. There is no worm in tequila bottled in Mexico. There is sometimes a worm in bottles of mezcal, but not tequila. When a worm is included in a bottle of mezcal, it is known as &#34con gusano" (with worm). The "worm" is usually the larva of one of two kinds of insects, either a red worm (&#34gusano rojo") or a maguey worm (&#34chinicuil"), the caterpillar of the Hypopta agavis moth.[39] The worm is a marketing ploy, as it has lost its nutrients inside the bottle. If you do find a worm in a bottle of mezcal, you can drink it without worry as the alcohol has thoroughly sanitized it.

Although consuming the worm does not result in any special aphrodisiac powers or hallucinogenic effects, some find it somewhat spiritual and imaginative. In recent years many manufacturers have began producing premium tequilas in collector bottles costing $60 - $100 USD or more. Although the fancy bottles are quite charming, if you forego this pleasure, you can find quality 100% agave tequila for less than half the price. Most tequila sold in the US for less than $20 a bottle is not 100% agave, but rather a mixture of 51% agave and 49% something else. Purists demand 100% agave tequila. Which tequilas are supreme is really a matter of individual taste. Some prefer the rough bite and strong agave presence of un-aged blanco tequila. Others like the characteristics of a middle-aged reposado, and some prefer the smoothness and woody aromas of an older a&#241ejo. Take the time to experience the different brands available and decide for yourself which is best. RECENT HISTORY As of 2012, the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States.

reported a 61% jump in U.S. imports of tequila since 2002. The majority of growth has been in the high-end premium tequila market. 12 million cases of tequila were sold in the U.S. during 2011, rewarding suppliers with a hefty $1.8 billion in revenue. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, increasing worldwide popularity of tequila drove corporate interest in the drink. Notable developments as a result included: 1. The purchase of Herradura by Brown-Forman for $776 million in September 2006.[5] 2. A new NOM (Norma Oficial Mexicana) for tequila (NOM-006-SCFI-2005) was issued in 2006, and among other changes, introduced a category of tequila called "extra añejo" or "ultra-aged" which must be aged a minimum of 3 years.[6] 3. The purchase of the Sauza and El Tesoro brands by massive holding company Fortune Brands.

Although some tequilas have remained as family owned brands, most well-known tequila brands are owned by large multinational corporations. However, there are over 100 distilleries making over six hundred brands of tequila in Mexico and over 2,000 brand names have been registered. Due to this, each bottle of tequila contains a serial number depicting which distillery the tequila was brewed and bottled in. Because there are only so many distilleries, multiple brands of tequila come from the same place.[6] The Tequila Regulatory Council of Mexico originally did not permit flavored tequila to carry the tequila name.[8] In 2004, the Council decided to allow flavored tequila to be called tequila, with the exception of pure agave tequila, which still could not be flavored. [8] A one-liter bottle of limited-edition premium tequila was sold for $225,000 in July 2006 in Tequila, Jalisco, by the company Tequila Ley .925. The bottle which contains the tequila is a two-kilo display of platinum and gold.

At that time the manufacturer held the Certificate from Guinness World Records for the most expensive bottle of spirit ever sold. [9] However, on 9 August 2013, the LATINO DAILY NEWS reported a far more expensive bottle of Ley .925 now holds the World Record. The new bottle, which is worth a reported $3.5 million, is made of 3.6 kilos of pure platinum and is covered with 6,400 diamonds. In 2008, Mexican scientists discovered a method to transform 80-proof (40% alcohol) tequila into diamonds. This process involves heating the tequila to over 800 degrees C (1,400 degrees F) to vaporize the tequila. The tequila particles are cooled, and settle upon steel or silicon trays in an even, pure layer. The results are hoped to have numerous commercial and industrial applications, but are far too small (100-400 nm diameter) for use in jewelry. [10] In 2003, Mexico issued a proposal that would require all Mexican-made tequila be bottled in Mexico before being exported to other countries.

[11]The Mexican government said that bottling tequila in Mexico would guarantee its quality. [11] Liquor companies in the United States said that Mexico just wanted to create bottling jobs in their own country.[11] Liquor companies in the United States also claimed this rule would violate international trade agreements and was in discord with usual exporting practices worldwide.[12] The proposal might have resulted in the loss of jobs at plants in California, Arkansas, Missouri, and Kentucky, because Mexican tequila exported in bulk to the United States is bottled in those plants.[12] On January 17, 2006, the United States and Mexico signed an agreement allowing the continued bulk import of tequila into the United States.[13][12][14]The agreement also created a "tequila bottlers registry" to identify approved bottlers of tequila and created an agency to monitor the registry.[12] Mezcal Mezcal Keep your favorite recipes & other stuff in one place, organized how you want. Login or Join to save this now. Mezcal There are few spirits as misunderstood as mezcal.

For one, you should never buy a bottle of the liquor if it contains a worm—those mezcals are for tourists and contain cheap alcohol. But fortunately, there’s now a growing selection of fine mezcals available in America from a range of producers. Mezcal, like its cousin tequila , is made from agave, which, contrary to popular belief, is not a cactus but is actually part of the asparagales botanical order, making it a relative of the yucca plant and Joshua tree. While tequila can only be made in the Tequila region and from just blue Weber agave, mezcal is usually produced in Oaxaca (it can legally come from anywhere in Mexico) and can be made from many types of agave, some of which only grow wild. Historically, producers used whatever agave they found locally. The other big difference between the two types of Mexican liquor is that mezcal distillers traditionally slow-roast the agave by burying it in pits with hot rocks, which infuses the final product with its signature smokiness.

(Tequila’s agave is generally baked in stone ovens or autoclaves.) HOW TO DRINK MEZCAL: Many of the truly artisanal small-batch mezcals should be sipped neat like an aged tequila or Islay Scotch . You can also use the spirit in a range of complex cocktails. Show Less Articles About Mezcal Mezcal Week is Coming to a Bar Near You Events are set to take place in bars, restaurants and cultural institutions all over the country. Two X-Files-Approved Cocktails for the New Season Are you a fan of Mulder and Scully? These drinks will make you believe. This is How to Pretend Like Your Cocktails are Healthy Beets, kale, ginger and so much more. Who says your nutrients can’t come with a side of alcohol? These Are the Drinks You Should Make with Hybrid Alcohols You have the special booze, now what? Dive into category-defying hybrid spirits with these cocktails. Red Hot Chile Cocktails Jalapeño’s not the only pepper you can put in a drink. Try these cocktails calling for an array of delicious chiles. Unusual St.

Patrick’s Day Cocktails The classic Irish Coffee, Guinness and shots of whiskey have their place, but we scored some truly different St. Paddy’s Day recipes from unexpected sources. In Season: Grapefruit Love grapefruit? Top bartender Naren Young shares his advice and five recipes for using the tart citrus in cocktails. Your Super Bowl Drinks What cocktail goes with pizza? Wings? Nachos? To find out the answers, we asked some of the top bartenders in Super Bowl host city New York for their suggestions. Drink Like the Locals A few places around the country boast truly unique drinks you can’t really find anywhere else. We got the scoop on some of these regional specialties. Boozy Hot Chocolate Warm up with these decadent (and thoroughly adult) spins on classic hot cocoa that call for a variety of spirits. Holiday Gift Guide: Tequila & Mezcal Have an agave-spirits lover in your life? Give them one of these five bottlings recommended by Alba Huerta, partner in new Houston watering hole The Pastry War. Raising the Bar: Phil Ward Tequila and mezcal fans flock to this talented bartender’s New York establishment Mayahuel.

We spoke to him about his new Los Angeles watering hole and how he got his start. Gourmet Shot: José Andrés The award-winning chef recently opened a craft-cocktail bar inside his acclaimed restaurant Minibar in Washington, D.C. We talked to him about his passion for Gin & Tonics and more. Raising the Bar: Bobby Heugel This talented bartender helped start the cocktail movement in Houston and now runs a small empire of restaurants and bars in the city. Gourmet Shot: Sue Torres The chef and owner of New York’s famed Sueños dishes on tequila, mezcal and the right way to celebrate Cinco de Mayo. The Five Biggest Tequila Myths With the help of agave-spirits expert and Liquor.com advisory board member Jacques Bezuidenhout, we clear up some common misconceptions about the Mexican liquor. Tequila Tequila Keep your favorite recipes & other stuff in one place, organized how you want. Login or Join to save this now. Tequila Contrary to popular belief, tequila is not cactus juice. The spirit is distilled from blue Weber agave.

(And for the record, it should never come with a worm in the bottle.) Just like Champagne or cognac, tequila can only be made in a specific region: the Mexican state of Jalisco and some surrounding areas. The area’s volcanic soil is perfect for growing agave. The forbidding plant, which has sharp thorns and long, thick leaves, takes between eight and 12 years to reach maturity before it can be harvested. The heart of the plant, which can weigh well over 100 pounds, is peeled, roasted and crushed, and its sweet juice is then fermented and distilled. (While premium tequila is made from pure agave, cheaper tequila called mixto is distilled from both agave and other sugars.) Tequila is usually distilled twice. There are four main tequila categories: Blanco (also called silver, plata or platinum) is aged for less than two months and is clear; reposado is aged between two and 12 months and is golden-colored; añejo is aged between one and three years and is a whisky-like brown; and extra-añejo, a new category introduced by the Tequila Regulatory Council in 2006, is aged more than three years.

Tequila, like most Scotches, is typically aged in used bourbon casks. HOW TO DRINK TEQUILA: Blanco tequila is perfect for shots and works nicely in cocktails like the Margarita, the Paloma and the Bloody Maria. Reposado, añejo and extra-añejo tequilas can be sipped like whiskies or can be used to create a decadent cocktail. Show Less 8 Tequila Cocktails to Drink in Bars Now All across the USA, tequila is getting shown off. We Tasted Trader Joe’s Distinqt Tequila to Find Out If You Should Buy It Is this the tequila you should be drinking? Maybe—or maybe not. 12 Small-Batch Tequilas That Are Worth the Hype Four experts pick their faves that they think are definitely worth your dollars. How a Margarita Is About to Save a Bunch of Bats It’s all in a change in how people make tequila. Everything You Need to Know About the History of Tequila This agave spirit is North America’s oldest distilled spirit. Here’s what it’s been up to since 1000 B.C. This Week in Drinksanity! Squid Ink in Your Drink?

Get back to black with this wacky drinking trend. Three Extremely Useful Tricks I Learned From Writing a Cocktail Book The co-writer of Julie Reiner’s new book, The Craft Cocktail Party, came out the other side with even more cocktail know-how than when she started. We Tried Patrón’s Virtual Reality Distillery Tour And it was awesome. These Are the Drinks You Should Make with Hybrid Alcohols You have the special booze, now what? Dive into category-defying hybrid spirits with these cocktails. Bartenders: Meet Agave’s Adventurous Side | Partner Tip Take two avid surfers, merge their deep love of Mexico and a sense of adventure and what do you get? The answer is Peligroso Silver Tequila, the tequila that you need behind your bar—now. Crafted from the finest 100% Blue Weber Agave from the highlands of Jalisco, Mexico, Peligroso Silver Tequila embodies the boundless passion […] Drink Me Now: Strawberries—from out of the Daiquiri and into the cocktail cutting-edge. Drink Me Now: Sugar Snap Peas Peas may be small, but they’re big on spring flavor and go shockingly well in easygoing cocktails.

5 Last-Minute Cinco de Mayo Drinks The 5 best Cinco de Mayo drinks, from morning to night. Red Hot Chile Cocktails Jalapeño’s not the only pepper you can put in a drink. Try these cocktails calling for an array of delicious chiles. In Season: Grapefruit Love grapefruit? Top bartender Naren Young shares his advice and five recipes for using the tart citrus in cocktails. Cheat Sheet: Romantic Cocktails We turned to a trio of top cocktail caterers for romantic recipes, plus their advice on creating an original drink for your sweetheart this Valentine’s Day. Why is There a Worm in Mezcal? By Hayes Peebles Why is There a Worm in Mezcal? Over the course of history, humans have been known to put all sorts of questionable things into their drinks. There is no end to the amount of ingredients that can (and will) be mixed up in a glass and served to unsuspecting (and willing) drinkers. As any child who has mixed up a “suicide” with every soda at the fountain can tell you, beverages fueled by boundless creativity can be hit or miss.

Mezcal is one of the booze universe’s most recent smash hits, and it too contains an ingredient most would regard (at a minimum) as questionable: a plump little worm. Given that most producers of fine beverages actively strive to keep dead insects out of their product, the recent popularity of Mezcal leads us to ask- what is up with the worm? There’s some debate surrounding the purpose of those little moth larvae, and we are here to address all possible answers to one of life’s most important questions: why is there a worm in Mezcal? 1) The worm is added for flavor! This is the claim that all worm-using Mezcal producers make. In southeastern Mexico, certain larvae are roasted and eaten as seasonal specialities. These larvae are the same kind of larvae that fail swimming lessons in your bottle of Mezcal. The most commonly used larvae are red worms (gusano rojo) and maguey worms (chinicuil), which are also considered to be the tastiest edible larvae around. Roasted Chinicuiles- get ‘em before they’re pupa! So do these moths-never-to-be really add something to the drink?

Well, Mezcal is a complex spirit with several layers of flavor and a strong, smokey backbone. Given how much is going on in the beverage, it’s certainly possible that these worms add some sort of “something” to the overall taste, but unlikely. Plenty of Mezcal producers don’t use the worm, and put forth an extremely similar product. Plus, most producers cure their worms in pure alcohol before bottling, which gives us reason to believe that they don’t add too much as far as flavor goes. Could the worm be included solely for marketing reasons? Stranger things have happened… 2) The worm will give you powers! Around this globe of ours there are those who believe that by drinking a spirit that contains the “essence” of a certain animal, some of the powers and characteristics of that animal are taken on by the drinker. These beliefs aren’t as prevalent in Mexico (at least these days) but are alive in well in Asia, where snake wine is believed to increase potency and is marketed as a cure for all sorts of ailments.

Whether or not you believe that a beverage like snake wine or worm-infused Mezcal will come with “essential” benefits, one might wonder why anybody would want to take on the characteristics of a larva. That is, until you remember that one day those infant caterpillars would have blossomed into a big old furry moth, which would be fun for a day or two. 3) Revenge! Nobody has ever said “revenge is a dish best served in a bottle of Mezcal,” but it just might be true. Most producers use chinicuil or gusanos rojos for their supposed flavor benefits. Others however, use picudo del agave worms, which are the larvae of the Agave Snout Weevil. As it turns out, the Agave Snout Weevil is a pest that preys upon agave plants. Agave plants are the very plants used to make Mezcal and its cousin Tequila. Are harvesters and producers deliberately putting the corpses of their weevil foes in their beverages to send a message? Probably not. But then again, you can’t really rule it out, can you?

18 Creative Liquor Bottles You'll Keep Long After They're Empty SumoMe Packaging is an effective and powerful part of a brand’s marketing strategy, but sometimes packaging becomes a bit more than that. For many liquors, the bottle that holds it can be as much a reason to buy it as the drink contained within; Absolut Vodka is a brand that comes to mind. And sometimes, the bottle itself can become the object of desire…and even a collectors’ item. The 18 bottles that follow are rare, luxurious, aesthetically pleasing, or otherwise interesting— and that means that they’re some of the most sought-after liquor bottles that money can buy. 1 Macallan Crystal Decanter This one-of-a-kind crystal Lalique decanter was commissioned by the famed Speyside distillery to be crafted using the ancient “cire perdue” method (also known as the “l ost wax ” method), which involves using a mold to cast duplicates of original sculptures and other kinds of three-dimensional art. Not only is the bottle a work of craftsmanship; it also and holds the oldest and rarest Macallan single malt ever bottled.

It sold at Sotheby’s for a whopping $460,000 in 2010, making it the most expensive bottle of whiskey ever sold. Largely thanks to that final price, 36 other bottles of the same single malt were later sold for around $16,000 a piece. Even if the original bottle had fetched only the $150,000 it was expected to get at auction, that would have made it the most expensive bottle of whisky in the world. 2 The Bombay Sapphire Revelation Collection The Bombay Sapphire Revelation collection featured just five Baccarat crystal bottles designed by Karim Rashid, with the diamond and jewel decorated caps supplied by Garrard. At $200,000 per bottle, the entire collection was worth a cool $1 million. The bottles were shipped to five separate cities across the globe (New York, London, Dubai, Sydney, and Singapore) to promote the brand with proceeds going to the Smile Train charity . Each bottle’s buyer also received a year’s supply of Bombay Sapphire gin. 3 Louis XIII Black Pearl Louis XIII Cognac is at the very top of high-end cognacs.

It’s a unique and rare blend of liquor aged between 40 to 100+ years in the Grande Champagne region of France. Though normally the brand goes for around $2,000 per bottle , this limited edition “ Black Pearl ” is listed for four times that amount. The bottle may look like steel or silver, but it is in fact a uniquely colored Baccarat crystal that reflects and refracts light like no other bottle before. 4 & 5 Ladoga Imperial Collection The premium vodka brands are getting into the fancy bottling racket as well, it seems. Ladoga created this classy Venice glass decanter for their Imperial collection .The decanter is detailed with 24-karat gold trim and inspired by Faberge eggs; when opened, the “egg” reveals the bottle and four cleverly mounted shot glasses within. The decanters come in a variety of colors, each suitable as a lovely collectors’ piece for any Russian vodka fanatic. 6 Crystal Head Vodka According to legend , 13 crystal skulls dating anywhere from 5,000 to 35,000 years old have been found throughout the world.

None of the skulls made available for study presented anything that would suggest they were manufactured any earlier than the 19th century, though there still exists some dispute on those accounts. Regardless, this is one of the more popular non-traditional bottles you might find in your neighborhood liquor store. And for under $50, it’s a bit more accessible than some of the above bottles. In fact, if you aren’t interested in the liquor inside and would prefer just to have the package, eBay has them going for just about $10 a piece (plus shipping). 7 Frozen Ghost Vodka If you have some time to learn about the legend behind this bottle , you’ll discover a story line like no other. But it’s the bottle itself that I’m most interested in. The pictures simply don’t do it justice. From the front, it looks like a figure attempting to escape the bottle. Turn it to the side, however, and the figure follows you until, from the side, it disappears completely. It’s an impressive and creepy holographic trick that certainly fits the narrative. I’m sure the vodka is pretty good, too… 8 & 9 La Collection Hand-Blown Glass Bottles This Armenian brand takes its bottle designs very seriously.

La Collection features a number of hand-blown glass bottles representing several different kinds of animals, including a bull, a horse, and an elephant, plus a few bottles shaped like other objects, like guns, a sword (with sheath), a menorah, and a ladies’ dress shoe. It’s definitely a brand worth collecting just for the unique glass work alone. 10 & 11 Milagro Tequila The first time I saw this bottle, I wasn’t sure I was in the right place. Is this a liquor store or…? Upon closer look, it became clear that there were simply two liquors in a single hand blown crystal bottle. Milagro produced the above bottle to celebrate two complimentary styles of tequila: “The 3 inner chambers are filled with 100% Blue Agave Select Barrel Reserve Anejo, each chamber representing a year of its aging to maturity. The outer chamber is filled with 100% Blue Agave Reposado aged to perfection for 9 months in oak barrels.” – Source The bottle below, however, is another piece of art that also happens to contain tequila. The hand-blown bottle features a glass tequila plant inside for a breathtaking visual experience.

12 Hijos DeVilla Tequila Keeping up with the tequila theme, this bottle is designed to look like a handgun ; it contains an ironically smooth tequila from Hijos De Villa. Along with the Crystal Head Vodka bottle, this is one of the more common non-traditional bottles you might be able to find locally and is also quite easy to find on eBay (sans liquor). 13 Kalashnikov AK-47 There are a number of other cool gun-shaped bottles, but this one from Kalashnikov vodka takes the cake. It’s the realistic gun case and included dog-tags that sells it, really. Not that the bottle itself isn’t great: it even stands up on the butt of the gun nicely without it (though I wouldn’t display it that way long—it’s still too tall), but the realistic case gives it that final detail for the full experience. 14 Medea Vodka Programmable Liquor Bottle Medea Vodka has done something truly remarkable with their bottle design that we find impressive. The LED display can remember up to six messages as long as 255 characters each. That’s right: each message contains more info than a tweet on Twitter! The batteries last about a year according to the website.

Just check out the video below for more info: 15 Precious Vodka At first glance, this bottle may look like the Bombay Sapphire Revelation design. And while it’s priced far short of $200k, instead selling for about $70 retail, each bottle does come with one of five precious stones in the cap. It’s the poor man’s version of Revelation, but a vodka by Jewel Lines . 16 Samurai Vodka This Russian made vodka, called Samurai, features a bottle design that’s clever in a minimalistic sort of way. It appears as though the bottle was cut in half by a samurai sword; the bottle even stands that way. Simple, aesthetic, and clever. — 17 Mayan-inspired Anejo Tequila This bottle, inspired by the Mayan culture, appears to be a stone replica statue and contains an unknown brand of Anejo tequila . Even though we don’t know much about the brand, one look at this unique bottle and I knew I needed to include it on my list anyway. 18 Pshenychnaya Vintage Ceramic Pshenychnaya is another vodka brand that’s explored non-traditional shaped bottles.

This time, instead of glass, the bottles are made from porcelain and painted to match the design more accurately. Along with the car (above), this brand also has an AK-47 design, though it’s not nearly as aesthetically fascinating. What’s your favorite bottle? Share other cool bottle designs with us in the comments! You might also like: Worms, Pears, Twigs- You Might See Them In The Bottle, But Don`t - tribunedigital-chicagotribune Worms, Pears, Twigs- You Might See Them In The Bottle, But Don`t Swallow Them October 22, 1989|By Lucy Leatherbee. `Waiter, there`s a worm in my drink!`` Such an exclamation might not be so far-fetched, especially at the trendiest of bars. Quirky spirits are popular, and it seems that the quest for new and unusual spirits is ever-widening. The biggest bars, as in the 225-foot Big Bar at the Hyatt Regency Chicago, 151 E. Wacker Dr. (565-1234), yield a treasure trove of oddities for the adventurous drinker.

The Dos Gusanos brand name for mezcal refers to the two little agave worms that are a relic of Mexican distilling tradition. Mezcal, a spirit made from the fermented pulp of agave cactus, has a slightly harsher taste than tequila. Though tequila also is made from agave, its production is regulated by the Mexican government to maintain quality standards. Because mezcal is not subject to laws governing its distillation, it is regarded by some as mere homemade hooch. Perhaps adding the worms gives mezcal a handmade touch. ``Research has not revealed any purpose for the agave worm, except perhaps as an informal but highly recognizable trademark,`` food writer Patricia Quintana said in ``The Taste of Mexico`` (Stewart Tabori & Chang, $50). Not quite as shocking as a worm but curious nonetheless is the fruit preserved in the French eau de vie known as Poire William ($19.50 to $22 per bottle). ``The eau de vie has a whole pear inside each bottle,`` said Max Zimmerman, owner of Zimmerman`s Liquors 213 W. Grand Ave. (332-0012).

The French distillers achieve this feat by tucking tiny pears inside bottles while the fruits are still on the tree boughs. The pears grow to maturity under glass. Upon harvesting, the bottled pears are steeped in eau de vie to infuse the liqueur with their taste and scent. A distinctive seed most Americans recognize as an ingredient of rye bread, the caraway, flavors more than bakery goods. Caraway is the key flavoring in akvavit, a potato-based spirit distilled in Denmark. Akvavit is the Danish pronunciation for the Latin ``aqua vitae,`` or water of life. Mention of akvavit was first found in a letter dating from 1528, in which the writer referred to akvavit as ``a kind of water that can cure all ills a man`s body can have.`` Alternative to vodka Krista Halling, a representative of the Jim Beam Brands Co. of Deerfield, said akvavit is gaining in popularity as an alternative to vodka. Its truly loyal following is found in its homeland. In Denmark, akvavit accounts for more than half of the distilled spirits drunk in the country.

To make the caraway taste more appealing to Americans, Jim Beam has developed several akvavit recipes. ``You can mix akvavit with a Bloody Mary blend,`` Halling said. ``Its caraway taste blends well with traditional tomato juice and spices.`` Akvavit goes well with foods such as smoked salmon, herring, hard cheeses and other pungent fare. Akvavit is a close cousin to the European liquor known as schnapps. In the Netherlands, Germany and Scandinavia, schnapps may have many spellings (snaps, schnaps, schnappes) but nowhere near as many flavors as do the American versions. Peach, mint, strawberry, blueberry, raspberry, ``wilderberry`` (a melange of berry flavorings), apricot, orange, pears, apple and even butterscotch flavors are found in American schnapps. Though the production process differs by maker and by country of origin, schnapps is basically a neutral, strong spirit, distilled from grain or potatoes. The spirit emigrated along with German and Scandinavian settlers to the Midwest. Even now, the upper Midwest-Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan-is a top market for schnapps.

The many tastes of schnapps Fruit-flavored schnapps took off in popularity in the early 1980s, as mixers as well as chill-chasers for the ski slopes or football stands. The exotic flavors lend themselves to truly unusual concoctions. Warm-weather ``Jell-O shots`` are made with fruit schnapps mixed with Jell-O for an after-dinner ``drink`` that wiggles. A more dignified after-dinner liqueur is the eclectic blend of 27 herbs, plants and peels steeped in cognac known as Benedictine. Benedictine has the honor of being the world`s oldest liqueur, made in the same place it was first developed in 1510, Fecamp, France. The ``D.O.M.`` on the true Benedictine label means ``Dio Optimo Maximo,`` or ``To God, Most Good, Most Great.`` Benedictine is truly a trade secret, as the monks who first made the liqueur swore to keep the formula secret. The Benedictine distillery includes a museum of fakes to prove that many imitators have not succeeded in duplicating the trademarked recipe.

It sells for an average of $20 to $22 in Chicago. If age alone is not sufficient cachet, why not try a spirit made with gold? Danziger Goldwasser, which retails for an average of $20, is a spicy liqueur made with orange peel, anise and pulverized bits of real gold leaf that give the liqueur sparkle (without being dangerous to drink, aside from its 80 proof alcohol content).

Question: In which alcoholic spirit might you find a worm in the bottle?
Answer: TEQUILA