If you’re just beginning to explore the vast world of mezcal it might be time to dive even deeper into the scene by drinking this traditional Mexican beverage made from the agave plant the way it was meant to be enjoyed. No you’re not going to be pouring this into a shot glass. Mezcal is meant to be sipped and in Mexico there are a few traditional drinking vessels made specifically for drinking it. Your choices are jicaras copitas or veladoras.
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Everything You Wanted to Know About Mezcal || How to Drink Mezcal the Right Way
The first two look more like bowls than glasses and the third shares some characteristics with a shot glass. We’ll explore all three choices below. The most typical accompaniment for mezcal is an orange slice topped with sal de gusano or worm salt. Don’t be averse to the idea of worm salt. If we didn’t tell you it had ground insects in it you’d never know. The umami-heavy condiment with a smoky heat when mixed with the sweetness and tartness of the orange slice enhances the natural flavors in the mezcal.
Unless you’re drinking your mezcal in a cocktail like the Naked & Famous which pairs the Mexican liqueur with yellow chartreuse Aperol and lime juice you’ll want to opt for a traditional drinking glass to drink your mezcal straight from. The most authentic vessel used for mezcal is the jicara. This shallow bowl-shaped vessel is made from a gourd and has a wide opening allowing you to place your nose close to it as you sip allowing more of your senses to experience the subtleties of the liqueur. Jicara have a history dating back thousands of years to Mayan and Aztec cultures and were often used ceremonially.
Copitas are similar to jicara but are made of clay. Many mezcal connoisseurs prefer the copita because unlike the jicara which is naturally porous a copita does not absorb the liquor. A more modern but still acceptable glass is the veladora a Catholic votive candle holder that was at one point repurposed for sipping mezcal. It resembles a shot glass but is fluted and has a wider opening so you can still inhale the liquor as you sip. You can find all three of these different types of drinking vessels on sites like Etsy and Amazon.
