Before science was invented, things were confusing. And, to be fair, for several decades into the birth of science, it was still confusing. Don’t believe us? Check out Scientific American magazines from the late 1800s — especially this one article about scientists tasting Mezcal and Tequila for the first time.
Agave Road Trip is a critically acclaimed, award-winning podcast that helps gringx bartenders better understand agave, agave spirits, and rural Mexico. This episode is hosted by Lou Bank with special guest Linda Sullivan of seynasecreto.
Episode Notes
Read Scientific American, No. 1096,January 2, 1897, for the source of the epic quote in this episode:
Not only does the maguey plant give the sap for the drink pulque, but its roots , distilled, yield much more powerful intoxicants, mescal and tequila.
And the heart of another variety of the same plant is cut out, roasted and put through a process of distillation to make still another drink. Mescal is described as tasting like a mixture of gasoline, gin and electricity, Tequila is even worse, and is said to incite murder, riot and revolution. A very small quantity of tequila is a drink. Experts advise it to be taken with a grain of salt, literally — the salt to be placed on the tongue first.
Several Michigan editors who lately visited the sister republic wandered into a "cantina" in the city of Puebla one evening and called for a drink apiece of the tequila. Each took a taste, felt his hair stand erect, his toes curl up and his skin wrinkle all over his body and was wise enough to leave the glass unfinished. Not one of them wished that time that Providence had endowed him with greater capacity.
Shout outs this episode to Jeppson’s Malort, Vienna Beefhot dogs, Cocktail MD Ryan Aycock, and Metsal inventor, Enrique Martinez!
