The 11 best mezcal brands you need to try, according to 4 experts

Ignacio "Nacho" Jimenez, expert of the best mezcals.Ghost Donkey

• All tequilas are mezcal, but not all mezcals are tequila — and if you're looking for something smokier, earthier, or more tropical, mezcal might be your best Cinco de Mayo bet.
• And mezcals are made from a variety of agave plants, so you can get a wide range of flavors, from nutty to floral.
• Even if you don't enjoy sipping tequila straight, these four experts recommended trying mezcal neat to experience the full flavor.
• From berries to nuts to chocolate, pair these 11 supreme mezcals from all over Mexico with your meal or dessert to celebrate.
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Tequila and mezcal. What's the difference, right?

Quite a bit. Both tequila and mezcal do come from the agave plant, and both are indigenous liquors to Mexico. But the comparison stops there.

To be fair, all tequilas technically are part of the mezcal family. Mezcal is a liquor that is produced from the agave plant, and there are 30 different types of agave from which the beverage can be made. Tequila, however, is only the product of a specific type of agave: Blue Agave. To be considered tequila, the liquor has to be produced in one of five designated states in Mexico, whereas mezcal is produced in nine different states, with the largest production in Oaxaca.