Mezcal 101 at AKA Wine and Mezcal Bar at AQUA Cancún
We have a bit of a tumultuous background with Mexico – similar to LiLo’s journey to non-slutdom and sobriety – but we recently gave Cancún another shot at love. Although all the usual suspects are still there (and some Real World leftovers), we discovered a civilized side of Cancún beyond the conveniences of the big-box hotels and silky blond beaches that few tourists ever see – especially for those who venture the 80-mile stretch south of Cancún, or the “Riviera Maya.”
In some rare cases, culture and calm (and even a bit of continuing education) can even be found amongst the partier’s paradise of the Zona Hotelera. Sometimes it simply helps to know where to look.
In between sun-worshipping, swimming and a much-needed massage while holed up at tranquil (yes, you read that correctly) AQUA Cancún , we unraveled the mystery behind mezcal at AKA Wine & Mezcal Bar. Named for wine geek, renowned mixologist and tequila evangelist Steve Olson, mezcal is known as tequila’s “Daddy.”
According to Olson, this agave plant-sourced spirit is the next big trend. Eager to take a time-out from margaritas and mojitos, we sidled up to the bar pre-dinner one evening to educate ourselves with the only mezcal tasting flight being offered in Cancún.
The bartender, Ernesto, filled five tiny terracotta cups with single village samples from Del Maguey, a producer out of Oaxaca. As we tentatively sipped from each vessel, one-by-one, we found the complexity, smoothness and intensity of each mezcal similar to that of single-malt scotch. We were instantly hooked, but there was one small issue: a bottle of mezcal, as in the really good stuff can set you back a few Benjamins.
Thankfully, the tasting at AKA costs just $20 USD, and believe us, it’s so high octane, that you don’t need more than a few sips to be locked, enlightened and loaded.
[Photo: Scanna283]
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