Pair Tacos With This Liquor For Unique Smoky Flavor

Tacos are more than a dish — they're an entire gastronomic genre. The traditional Mexican meal can be made in so many different formats and with such a wide variety of ingredients, not to mention all its international versions, that there really is a taco for every mood. The unifying factor of all these tacos is that they are invariably loaded with contrasting flavors and textures. Most will have a mix of spicy, sour, savory, and often a little bit of sweet. There will typically be crunchy and creamy ingredients, juicy bits, and dry flaky ones as well. Fittingly, tacos are often paired with equally versatile beverages like light beer, tequila, or the ubiquitous margarita.

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While the aforementioned drinks are classics, there's one that could bolster your taco experience further. Mezcal is a relatively lesser-known Mexican liquor that is derived from the agave plant and has a unique smoky edge. Like the different types of tequila, mezcal can also have a range of tasting notes depending on how it is processed and how long it is aged. The drink's complex notes complement the flavor explosion of a taco, which is why it is the pairing of choice for Marc Marrone, the Executive Chef at Arriba Abajo, a Mexican cantina-style restaurant at the Thompson Austin. In a Foodie exclusive, we explore the best taco-mezcal combos and how Marrone himself likes to pair the two.

Mezcal's complex smoky notes complement all kinds of tacos

Mezcal is traditionally made by roasting the agave plant in giant fire pits or ovens, which gives the resulting liquor its characteristic flavor notes. "I am a fan of mezcal, which has a smoky profile compared to tequila, and enjoy pairing my tacos with a spicy mezcal margarita," says Marc Marrone, whose poolside restaurant serves Mexican-inspired cocktails. Most types of mezcal also contain fruity and floral notes, so you can choose which flavors you want to bolster in your cocktail and enjoy how the liquor's punchy taste complements your food. 

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Because tacos are generally served warm instead of hot (high temperatures can suppress certain flavors), it allows you to enjoy mezcal's complex flavors even more. If you enjoy elevating your favorite foods with interesting drinks, pairing pizza with wine also offers a plethora of delicious combinations.

To really dive into mezcal-taco pairings, consider sipping it neat with your food. A repasado mezcal isn't aged for too long and therefore has more fruity and peppery notes that are characteristic of the agave plant. Pair this with tacos that have light, herbal, and fresh flavors, like grilled chicken taco with a cilantro dressing and a bright salsa. If your dish has slow-cooked meats with deep flavors, pair it with an aged anejo mezcal which has smoother notes of caramel and oak. Of course, you can also have the mezcal as a shot in between bites. Just remember to keep two lemon wedges handy — one to squeeze over your taco and the other to follow up that shot.

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