Mezcal Agave Varieties: A Practical Guide

Mezcal, in depth

Start with the plant.

Espadín, Tobalá, Tepeztate, Cuishe, and beyond: how to use an agave name without treating it as a flavor guarantee.

Different agaves growing across a Mexican hillside

Species, local name, expression

An agave name is one layer of a mezcal’s identity. A scientific species name helps identify the plant; a local name reflects the language and practice of a community; an expression name identifies a particular release. These are related, but not interchangeable.

Read the agave alongside the producer, village, batch, and process. A familiar name is a useful comparison point, not a promise that two bottles will taste alike. Common names can overlap or change from one region to another.

Common agave names

Use these as identifiers, not flavor ratings. Local names and botanical names do not always map perfectly across regions.

Espadín

Usually Agave angustifolia

The most familiar mezcal reference point and useful for comparing producers and process.

Cuishe / Madre Cuishe

Often Agave karwinskii

Local naming varies, so producer and place matter as much as the name on the bottle.

Tobalá

Often Agave potatorum

A common name that can cover more than one botanical identification depending on context.

Tepeztate / Tepextate

Often Agave marmorata

Spelling varies. The variation does not by itself indicate a different category of spirit.

Jabalí

Often Agave convallis

A distinct agave direction, but not a guaranteed flavor profile from bottle to bottle.

Chino

Producer-specific local name

La Luna identifies its Chino as Cupreata. Keep local names tied to the producer and region.

Tequilana

Blue agave

Familiar from tequila, but the plant itself does not determine whether a finished spirit is classified as tequila or mezcal.

One bottle, multiple agaves

What does ensamble mean?

Not a quality grade

An ensamble combines more than one agave in a single expression. The proportions—and even when the agaves are combined during production—can vary by batch and producer.

Treat it as its own finished mezcal rather than trying to predict the flavor by adding together the individual agave names.