Mezcal comes from Nahuatl mexcalli, literally 'cooked agave,' describing the traditional method of pit-roasting agave hearts before fermentation.
A Mexican spirit distilled from the fermented juice of various agave plants, often with a smoky flavor.
From Spanish mezcal, from Nahuatl mexcalli, a compound of metl (agave plant) and ixcalli (cooked or baked). The word literally means 'cooked agave,' referring to the traditional production method of roasting agave hearts in underground pit ovens before fermentation and distillation. Key roots: metl (Nahuatl: "agave plant"), ixcalli (Nahuatl: "cooked, baked").