It has come to our attention that numerous online sources have circulated a claim attributed to the Beverage Testing Institute that mezcal is the “purest distilled alcohol”. As mezcal researchers, tasters, and critics, we have the utmost respect for the diversity, flavor, and artistry of the mezcal category; have been authoritatively reviewing mezcals for over 25 years, and in coordination with the state of Oaxaca, conducted the largest professional tasting and review of mezcals in the United States in 2003.
In all our years of tasting, reviewing, and writing about mezcal, BTI has never made a claim that mezcal is the purest distilled alcohol and all attributions of this claim to BTI are patently false. Moreover, we believe that such a claim would be impossible for us, or any credible research organization, to scientifically prove and demonstrate and therefore is pure puffery.
For more information about our actual writing and reviews about mezcal, please visit Tastings.com