Mezcal is an alcoholic beverage produced primarily in Mexico and made from the distillation of fermented agave. The name mezcal comes from the Nahuatl language, meaning "cooked agave" or "oven-cooked agave." The production of mezcal begins with harvesting the agaves. Depending on the variety of mezcal being made, the harvesting process could take several weeks to over a year. After harvesting, the heart of the agave is removed, called piña which is then cooked in one of two ways - either by steaming it in an underground oven for three to four days or by roasting it over hot stones for a few hours.

Once cooked, the piñas are ground into small pieces and placed in large tanks called tinas where they are mixed with water and yeast. This mixture goes through a fermentation process that typically lasts around one week and results in a type of beer known as mosto. During fermentation, natural yeasts break down the sugars found within the piñas to produce alcohol similar to wine.

The next step is distillation where this alcoholic liquid is heated up until it boils and turns into vapor which is then captured using coils that funnel it through coolers so that it condenses back into liquid form. This distilled liquid has an alcohol content between 30-55%. The end result is a smooth liquor known as mezcal with distinctive smoky flavors due to its traditional methods of cooking and fermenting.

Mezcal can be enjoyed straight or blended into cocktails such as Margaritas, Palomas, and Mezcalitas among many others. It's also used for ritualistic purposes during festivals such as Day of the Dead when mezcal is enjoyed together with family members to honor those who have passed away.