Definitions for mezcal
mez·cal

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. mescal, mezcal, peyote, Lophophora williamsiinoun

   a small spineless globe-shaped cactus; source of mescal buttons

WiktionaryRate this definition:3.0 / 1 vote

1. mezcalnoun

   A Mexican alcoholic liquor distilled from agave plants.

2. Etymology: From mezcal, from mexcalli, from metl + ixcalli.

WikipediaRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Mezcal

   Mezcal (, American Spanish: [mesˈkal] (listen)), sometimes spelled mescal, is a distilled alcoholic beverage made from any type of agave. The word mezcal comes from Nahuatl mexcalli [meʃˈkalːi], which means "oven-cooked agave", from metl [met͡ɬ] and ixcalli [iʃˈkalːi]. Traditionally the word "mezcal" has been used generally in Mexico for all agave spirits and it continues to be used for many agave spirits whether these spirits have been legally certified as "mezcal" or not, and it is also considered a drink of artisan origin. Agaves or magueys are endemic to the Americas and found globally as ornamental plants. More than 70% of mezcal is made in the Mexican state of Oaxaca, but is now produced and commercialized throughout Mexico for the national and international market. A saying attributed to Oaxaca regarding the drink is: "Para todo mal, mezcal, y para todo bien, también; y si no hay remedio litro y medio" ("For all bad, mezcal, and for all good, as well; and if there is no remedy, liter and a half"). Native fermented drinks from maguey plant, such as pulque, existed before the arrival of the Spanish.The origin of mezcal is tied to the introduction of distillation technology from Spanish immigrants to Nueva Galicia (present-day Aguascalientes, Colima, Guanajuato, Jalisco, Nayarit, and Zacatecas) in the late 16th century.Upon introduction, these liquors were called aguardiente ('blazing water'). The Spanish had known distillation processes since the eighth century and had been used to drinking hard liquor. They brought a supply with them from Europe, but when this ran out, they began to look for a substitute. They had been introduced to pulque and other drinks based on the agave or agave plant, so they began experimenting to find a way to make a product with a higher alcohol content. The result is mezcal.Their stills were acquired and adapted by indigenous peoples in the region to produce mezcal from the fermented juices of agave heart. Vino faced severe prohibition from colonial authorities since the early 17th century because they competed with liquor imports from Spain. The ban of vino created the ideal circumstances for the commercialization and expansion of mezcal production. Mezcal also became banned shortly after. But they continued to be manufactured clandestinely in remote hard-to-reach areas because they were sourced from readily available wild agave plants and the stills were portable and easy to hide. Mezcal production gradually spread from the coastal regions to the highlands of Jalisco and neighboring regions in the 17th and 18th centuries. A variant from these regions made specifically from the blue agave became the tequila. It spread further to the rest of Mexico and parts of what is now the southern United States via trade routes. In the 21st century, mezcal is still made from the heart of the agave plant, called the piña, in much the same way as it was 200 years ago. In Mexico, mezcal is generally consumed straight and has a strong smoky flavor. Though other types of mezcal are not as popular as tequila, Mexico does export the product, mostly to Japan and the United States, and exports are growing.Despite the similar name, mezcal does not contain mescaline or other psychedelic substances.

Webster DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Mezcalnoun

   same as Mescal

WikidataRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Mezcal

   Mezcal, or mescal, is a distilled alcoholic beverage made from the maguey plant native to Mexico. The word mezcal comes from Nahuatl mexcalli metl and ixcalli which means "oven-cooked agave". The maguey grows in many parts of Mexico, though most mezcal is made in Oaxaca. There is a saying attributed to Oaxaca regarding the drink: "para todo mal, mezcal, y para todo bien también". It is unclear whether distilled drinks were produced in Mexico before the Spanish Conquest. The Spaniards were introduced to native fermented drinks such as pulque, also made from the maguey plant. Soon the conquistadors began experimenting with the maguey plant to find a way to make a distillable fermented mash. The result was mezcal. Today, mezcal is still made from the heart of the maguey plant, called the "piña", much the same way it was 200 years ago, in most places. In Mexico, mezcal is generally consumed straight and has a strong smoky flavor. Though mezcal is not as popular as tequila, Mexico does export the product, mostly to Japan and the United States, and exports are growing.

Matched Categories

1. • Cactus

How to pronounce mezcal?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say mezcal in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of mezcal in Chaldean Numerology is: 5

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of mezcal in Pythagorean Numerology is: 6

Examples of mezcal in a Sentence

1. Founder Rafael Shin:

   My hope is that Agua Mágica helps more people enjoy mezcal as native Mexicans do, gaining an appreciation for the nuances of how it’s crafted and the terroir of where the agave is grown, it’s something that is so common in the world of wine — enthusiasts are well-versed in the differences in flavor and production method from one region to another. My goal is that people will approach mezcal with just as much appreciation for the particular people and place that made it.

2. Director Inarritu:

   We gave it our all on this film, and this appreciation from the Academy means a lot to me and my colleagues who made it possible, champagne and Mezcal will run tonight!

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References

1. ^ Princeton's WordNet
   http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=mezcal
2. ^ Wiktionary
   https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Mezcal
3. ^ Wikipedia
   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mezcal
4. ^ Webster Dictionary
   https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mezcal
5. ^ Wikidata
   https://www.wikidata.org/w/index.php?search=mezcal