Gusano rojo mezcal bottling note a smoky, slightly sweet mezcal from oaxaca, complete with a worm which the mezcal has been named after gusano rojo means red worm. The grub in question is the agave worm gusano rojo and there are several theories about its presence in the bottle. I had it on my tbr shelf for a while and finally picked it up from a local book store. Initially you may not find the idea of wormlaced salt very enticing, but once you try it you may be surprised. It is very unfortunate that mezcal suffers from the reputation it has. But if youre looking for the truth about the worm in your tequila, i have some sobering news for you. My friend had this bottle of tequila bought in mexico. Stores and prices for nv gusano rojo with worm mezcal tasting notes, market data, prices and stores in usa. The worm were all thinking of actually belongs in a bottle of mezcal, tequilas huskier, smokier cousin tequila has to be at least 51% blue agave, but mezcal can be made from any variety of. Rojo gusano brings an elevated, globalfusion spin to the simple street foods of mexico and latin america, presented in a breezy. Although the bottle is still sealed, evaporation of the contents has occurred over many years so the bottle is less than half full.
Het sap dat overblijft wordt vervolgens gebruikt ter productie van gusano rojo mezcal. These larvae are called gusano and bottles of mezcal that contain the creepy critters are referred to as con gusano. The standards are not included here, but are included. Gusano rojo mezcal is one of the most popular mezcals in mexico, and is made with 100% agave. What are the effects of drinking a worm from a tequila. Complete with a worm theres a cartoon worm on the label, too with arms, legs and a cheeky grin. Ray foley is the founder and editor of bartender magazine. In the same way, tom bullok explains in his book the mezcal experience that monte alban mezcal followed gusano rojo with its worm. The coral tequila worm gusano rojo, which is thought to be the most tasty, buries into the pineappleshaped center of an agave plant the tequila worm is the first novel written by mcallen native viola canales and it is loosely based on some of the events that happened in her life. The worm, however, isnt actually a worm, but the larva of one of two different types of moths that live on the agave plant. Up to now most of the mezcal in the united states was low quality spirit meant to be drunk as quickly as possible to get to the worm at the bottom. Here are her tales of growing up in the barrio in mcallen, texas, full of the magic and mystery of family traditions. The tequila worm begins as vignettes and then moves into a more traditional narrative when sofia, the mexicanamerican protagonist, is a fourteenyearold high school freshman. I have translated the whole bottle but can not find the brand on the web.
Worm is still there but he may be shrinking in size. What is the worm in tequila, and what does it do to you. To present and evaluate the lessons learned in the tequila worm. The worm is never found in tequila, says heriberto oviedo, the tequilier like a sommelier for tequila at the cantina beach restaurant at the ritzcarlton in key biscayne, fl. Parents have this bottle of mezcal thats about 30 years. The drink that has worms in and is often confused with tequila is mezcal, a related but different beverage produced in mexico. Stores and prices for gusano rojo with worm mezcal prices, stores, tasting notes and market data. Tequila, is often decribed as a subcategory of mezcal. They are not found on cacti, as is often erroneously reported. While tequila suffered the same problems and years ago moved on to a much improved status in both. It was almost exclusively vile stuff that only frat boys drank on dares. You will never see a worm in tequila, despite the popular myth, but you will see one in some of the lowmarket brands of mezcal such as gusano rojo.
Afraid this might be the reason that mezcal has a bad reputation in england most commonly found in shops and bars that dont have an agave focus. Provided to youtube by cdbaby gusano i am a worm bungee jumpin cows rock candy. Nv gusano rojo with worm mezcal tasting notes, market. Contrary to popular belief, a true tequila does not contain a worm. To instill a love of reading by offering crafts and activities to go along with quality latino literature. Why is there a worm in tequila mezcal and tequila worm. A mezcal worm is an insect larva found in some types of mezcal produced in oaxaca, mexico. One of these is that the worm guarantees the strength of the distilled spirit. Tastes watered down and tastes industrially made, with no. To be called tequila, the liquor must be 100% blue agave and be produced in just five reg.
The tequila we will examine today will be gusano rojo which translates to red worm, a 100% agavetequila with an agave worm. In his book, dias blue writes that the insect serves as evidence of a mezcals potency. Few other books in our time have touched so many readers. Mezcal is the name for the family of mexican alcoholic spirits distilled from various species of the agave genus, known as maguey. The tequila worm the tequila worm by viola canales is the selection for the laiis vamos a leer book group meeting held on november 3, 2014. The larva is usually either a gusano rojo red worm or a chinicuil. But officials concede that many remain off the books in rural oaxaca to avoid paying taxes. The number of mezcal brands is much smaller than the number of tequila brands. It is not a mexcal, which has a worm in the bottle. Here are her tales of growing up in the barrio, full of the magic and mystery of family traditions. Sofia is surrounded by the culture and traditions of her familia as she. Various legends attribute great strength to anyone brave enough to gulp down.
The meriposa worm is grown on agave from which mezcal is made, and when a worm is added to the mezcal, it. When sofia is singled out to receive a scholarship to. The white maguey worms, known as meocuiles, are caterpillars of a butterfly commonly named tequila giant skipper, aegiale hesperiaris aegiale hesperiaris is found usually in regions of central mexico, on the leaves of family agavaceae plants, such as. The famous gusano worm is only found in some mezcals never tequila. Mezcals can be made anywhere in the world, and be made from either green or blue agave. In the beginning, a younger sofia relays special familycentered momentssome downright hysterical and others more poignantsuch as her first communion, making. The tequila worm has earned a variety of awards and recognitions. Up for sale is a bottle of gusano rojo not for consumption decorative collectible purposes only.
In theory, if were digging all this virility purity worm infusion stuff, a gusano rojo is a better worm to have in your bottle, since it feeds on the heart of the maguey the part thats roasted. Why theres a worm in your tequila bottle mindbounce. When sofia is singled out to receive a scholarship to an elite boarding. The work caterpillar is a fun touch but not necessary to consume. Tequila worm the real story behind the tequila worm. This bottle has never been opened it still has the worm intact and a package of salt is attached. When a bottle of mezcal contains a worm, the mezcal is described as being con gusano, or with worm in spanish. Various legends attribute great strength to anyone brave enough to gulp down the agave worm.
The larva is usually either a gusano rojo red worm or a chinicuil maguey worm, the caterpillar of the comadia redtenbacheri moth. I am not exactly sure of how old this bottle is i know it is over 10 years. Theres a cartoon worm on the label, too, with arms, legs and a cheeky grin. Whether youve ever been challenged to eat the worm in the bottom of a tequila bottle yourself or simply watched someone else do it, you might be wondering what the deal is with the worm in the first place. It is made from 100% agave mezcal reposado and is produced in oaxaca, mexico. Gusano rojo agave worm tequila vintage bottle 1960s 70s. Why is there a worm in tequila mezcal and tequila worm effects. Get menu, photos and location information for rojo gusano in chicago, il. According to anthony dias blues complete book of spirits, that worm is actually a larva from one of two types of moths, known as maguey worms, that live on the agave plant. Gusano rojo with worm mezcal prices, stores, tasting. The following information comprises a standardsbased educators guide that the laii has produced to support using the tequila worm wendy lamb books, 2005 in the classroom. Rodriguez says his gusano rojo is the best seller in mexico but.
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