Which came first, the tequila or the mezcal? For most of us, the former, served up in a fishbowl sized margarita-- or in a plastic shot glass at some college frat party. For many, the journey with tequila starts out pretty rough (and pretty cheap), though when appreciated, can actually be quite a delightful experience.
With the rise of cocktail culture in America, both tequila and mezcal have found new claims to fame on bar shelves and cocktail lists alike; so what's the difference between the two? Actually, there are quite a few-- but once you get them down, understanding these two spirits is actually pretty simple. Follow our explainer below for all of the details on Mexico's two celebrated spirits.