Here we go.  Strap on your agave nerd hat!  I have been working on this new piece for months.  I put up my first post on this topic in May, but I have learned more since then and this list is better.  Perfect?  No.  But better.  You see, it is a difficult topic to tackle.  Let’s start with the mezcal regulators.

Mezcal had its first modernized set of government regulations, called NORMA in 1994.  A new NORMA was drawn up for mezcal in 1997 and revised in 2005.  Under the new laws, all mezcal production must be certified in order to sell or export it.  The NORMA lists only 5 of the common varieties of agave from which mezcal can be made, such as espadin and tobala. (more…)