Mezcal is a distillate produced with a plant called Agave.

There are many species of Agave, ~ 200 species,

~ 30 are used to produce mezcal,

yet, only 12 species account for ~ 99% of certified mezcal*.

Learn about the 12 principal agaves to appreciate mezcal…

12 AGAVE REGIONS

Browse to explore the principal agave regions, examine its differences and special characteristics

Espadín

A. angustifolia

Verde

A. salmiana

Cenizo

A. durangensis

Ancho

A. cupreata

Tobalá

A. potatorum

Azul

A. tequilana

Verde

A. scabraa

Cuishe

A. karwinskii

Coyote

A. americana oaxacensis

Jabalí

A. convallis

Pichumel

A. marmorata

Mexicano

A. rhodacantha

Maguey Espadín
A. angustifolia

'Espadín' Region

Area where maguey 'Espadín' ( A. angustifolia) grows in Mexico. Brown fading represents density of plants in an area.

'Mezcal' Denomination of origin

Area where a distillate produced with an agave can be legally labelled as mezcal.

Political Boundary

General Facts
'Espadín' Info

'Espadín' info

~86% of all certified mezcal produced in 2019 was made with ‘espadín’ (a. angustifolia). Its popularity among mezcal fans comes from its easiness to drink, among mezcaleros due to its high yield.

Extends over an area in Mexico roughly equivalent in size to the province of British Columbia in Canada.

1 to 2m height

June to August (Flowering season)

6 to 8 years (Life expectancy / maturity)

30-1770 meters above sea level

General Facts
'Espadín' info

Maguey Verde
A. salmiana

'Verde' Region

Area where maguey 'Verde' ( A. salmiana) grows in Mexico. Brown fading represents density of plants in an area.

'Mezcal' Denomination of origin

Area where a distillate produced with an agave can be legally labelled as mezcal.

Political Boundary

General Facts
'Verde' info

'Verde' info

Less than 1% of all certified mezcal produced in 2019 was made with ‘verde’ (a. salmiana). Pleasingly floral, it is unique among mezcals because it is usually not smoky, due to its production process.

Distributed over an area in Mexico roughly equivalent in size to Germany.

1.5 to 2.5m height

April to June (Flowering season)

12 to 16 years (Life expectancy / maturity)

300-2400 meters above sea level

General Facts
'Verde' info

Maguey Cenizo
A. durangensis

'Cenizo' Region

Area where maguey 'Cenizo' ( A. durangensis) grows in Mexico. Brown fading represents density of plants in an area.

'Mezcal' Denomination of origin

Area where a distillate produced with an agave can be legally labelled as mezcal.

Political Boundary

General Facts
'Cenizo' info

'Cenizo' info

~2% of all certified mezcal produced in 2019 was made with ‘cenizo’ (a. durangensis). Durango produces mezcal with several agave varieties, yet 'cenizo' is the local favorite.

Distributed in Mexico over an area roughly equivalent in size to the state of New York in the USA.

0.7 to 1.8m height

March to May (Flowering season)

10 to 12 years (Life expectancy / maturity)

650-2560 meters above sea level

General Facts
'Cenizo' info

Maguey Ancho
A. cupreata

'Ancho' Region

Area where maguey 'Ancho' ( A. cupreata) grows in Mexico. Brown fading represents density of plants in an area.

'Mezcal' Denomination of origin

Area where a distillate produced with an agave can be legally labelled as mezcal.

Political Boundary

General Facts
'Ancho' info

'Ancho' info

~3% of all certified mezcal produced in 2019 was made with ‘ancho’ (a. cupreata). It is a mezcal known by its sweetness and complexity. The mezcal of choice in Guerrero and Michoacán.

Extends over an area in Mexico roughly equivalent in size to the state of Washington in the USA.

0.7 to 1.8m height

March to June (Flowering season)

10 to 12 years (Life expectancy / maturity)

650-2560 meters above sea level

General Facts
'Ancho' info

Maguey Tobalá
A. potatorum

'Tobalá' Region

Area where maguey 'Tobalá' ( A. potatorum) grows in Mexico. Brown fading represents density of plants in an area.

'Mezcal' Denomination of origin

Area where a distillate produced with an agave can be legally labelled as mezcal.

Political Boundary

General Facts
'Tobalá' info

'Tobalá' info

~2% of all certified mezcal produced in 2019 was made with ‘tobalá’ (a. potatorum). Revered by many aficionados and mezcaleros in Oaxaca - where most mezcal is made in Mexico.

Extends over an area in Mexico roughly equivalent in size to the state of Illinois in the USA.

0.3 to 0.5 m height

September to November (Flowering season)

10 to 12 years (Life expectancy / maturity)

300-2600 meters above sea level

General Facts
'Tobalá' info

Maguey Azul
A. tequilana

'Azul' Region

Area where maguey 'Azul' ( A. tequilana) grows in Mexico. Brown fading represents density of plants in an area.

'Mezcal' Denomination of origin

Area where a distillate produced with an agave can be legally labelled as mezcal.

Political Boundary

General Facts
'Azul' info

'Azul' info

Less than 1% of all certified mezcal produced in 2019 was made with ‘azul’ (a. tequilana). Perhaps the most famous of mezcals as it is the agave used for tequila, for some it is even better in its artisanal form.

Extends over an area in Mexico roughly equivalent in size to the United Kingdom.

1.5 to 2m height

May to July (Flowering season)

8 to 10 years (Life expectancy / maturity)

300-1585 meters above sea level

General Facts
'Azul' info

Maguey Verde
A. scabraa

'Verde' Region

Area where maguey 'Verde' ( A. scabraa) grows in Mexico. Brown fading represents density of plants in an area.

'Mezcal' Denomination of origin

Area where a distillate produced with an agave can be legally labelled as mezcal.

Political Boundary

General Facts
'Verde' info

'Verde' info

No liters of certified mezcal were produced in 2019 with ‘verde’ (a. scabraa). An astounding mezcal that is nowadays available only in small batches locally.

Extends over an area in Mexico roughly equivalent in size to the province of New South Wales in Australia.

1 to 2 m height*

March to May (Flowering season)

10 to 12 years (Life expectancy / maturity)

500-2500 meters above sea level

General Facts
'Verde' info

Maguey Cuishe
A. karwinskii

'Cuishe' Region

Area where maguey 'Cuishe' ( A. karwinskii) grows in Mexico. Brown fading represents density of plants in an area.

'Mezcal' Denomination of origin

Area where a distillate produced with an agave can be legally labelled as mezcal.

Political Boundary

General Facts
'Cuishe' info

'Cuishe' info

~2% of all certified mezcal produced in 2019 was made with ‘cuishe’ (a. karwinskii). It is a mezcal with unmistakable identity, the favorite of many enthusiasts.

Extends over an area in Mexico roughly equivalent in size to Ireland.

0.6 to 1.5 m height

10 to 12 years (Life expectancy / maturity)

August to October (Flowering season)

400-1500 meters above sea level

General Facts
'Cuishe' info

Maguey Coyote
A. americana oaxacensis

'Coyote' Region

Area where maguey 'Coyote' ( A. americana oaxacensis) grows in Mexico. Brown fading represents density of plants in an area.

'Mezcal' Denomination of origin

Area where a distillate produced with an agave can be legally labelled as mezcal.

Political Boundary

General Facts
'Coyote' info

'Coyote' info

Less than 1% of all certified mezcal produced in 2019 was made with ‘coyote’ or some other variety of agave americana. An adaptable agave that lives in varied ecosystems, produces very interesting mezcals that vary in their flavors.

Extends over an area in Mexico roughly equivalent in size to the state of New Mexico in the USA.

1.5 to 2.5 m height

8 to 10 years (Life expectancy / maturity)

February to April (Flowering season). Agave americana var. oaxacensis rarely flowers, reproduction occurs through bulbils

0-2325 meters above sea level

General Facts
'Coyote' info

Maguey Jabalí
A. convallis

'Jabalí' Region

Area where maguey 'Jabalí' ( A. convallis) grows in Mexico. Brown fading represents density of plants in an area.

'Mezcal' Denomination of origin

Area where a distillate produced with an agave can be legally labelled as mezcal.

Political Boundary

General Facts
'Jabalí' info

'Jabalí' info

Less than 1% of all certified mezcal produced in 2019 was made with ‘jabalí’ (a. convallis). One of the most difficult agaves to convert into mezcal, it is rare and appreciated by those who have tasted it.

Extends over an area in Mexico roughly equivalent in size to Iceland.

1 to 1.5 m height*

10 to 13 years (Life expectancy / maturity)

June to August (Flowering season)

1000-2000 meters above sea level

General Facts
'Jabalí' info

Maguey Pichumel
A. marmorata

'Pichumel' Region

Area where maguey 'Pichumel' ( A. marmorata) grows in Mexico. Brown fading represents density of plants in an area.

'Mezcal' Denomination of origin

Area where a distillate produced with an agave can be legally labelled as mezcal.

Political Boundary

General Facts
'Pichumel' info

'Pichumel' info

~1% of all certified mezcal produced in 2019 was made with ‘pichumel’ (a. marmorata). Known in Oaxaca as Tepeztate, it has a cult following. Great mezcals, whose minerality set them apart from the rest.

Extends over an area in Mexico roughly equivalent in size to the Netherlands.

1 to 2 m height

25 to 35 years (Life expectancy / maturity)

March to May (Flowering season)

340-2112 meters above sea level

General Facts
'Pichumel' info

Maguey Mexicano
A. rhodacantha

'Mexicano' Region

Area where maguey 'Mexicano' ( A. rhodacantha) grows in Mexico. Brown fading represents density of plants in an area.

'Mezcal' Denomination of origin

Area where a distillate produced with an agave can be legally labelled as mezcal.

Political Boundary

General Facts
'Mexicano' info

'Mexicano' info

Less than 1% of all certified mezcal produced in 2019 was made with ‘mexicano’ (a. rhodacantha). Another mezcal that has its own followers, all in love with the flavor complexity of a very rare mezcal.