plural mescals
1
a
usually mezcal plural mezcals
: a usually colorless Mexican liquor made by distilling the fermented mash obtained after roasting the thick central part of various agaves
The spirit commonly referred to as mezcal is made from hundreds of different varieties of agave in nine officially designated states in central Mexico.—Ben Crandell
There are hundreds of agave varieties, some of which make complex and delicious mescals (tequila is, in fact, a mescal made from one type of agave grown in a defined area) …—James Rodewald
Note: Tequila is often distinguished from other mezcals because it can only be made from the blue agave and has more restrictive guidelines regarding its production.
The bar also houses a selection of more than 50 tequilas and mezcals …—Jennifer Tanaka
Akin to Mexican tequila, mezcal is a type of liquor made from agave plants. Its flavor is often described as having a "smoky" flavor profile since the agave is traditionally cooked in an underground pit before distillation.—Melissa Montalvo
b
: an agave from which mezcal is produced : maguey
2
: peyote
Even peyote, a hallucinogenic cactus, was called mescal for a while.—Karen Benson
Peyote, also known as mescal, comes from a small cactus that grows in Mexico and the southwestern United States.—Charles E. Beggs
Cite this Entry
“Mescal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mescal. Accessed 16 Jun. 2025.
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