Before mezcal I knew tequila. We danced together and had a good time. Then I found mezcal and we not only danced but we talked and talked. As a lover of whisky, mezcal was an easy step for me. And Tom is the person to tell you all about it.

Thomasina Miers, author and chef-owner of Wahaca restaurant chain

Thomas, aside from having one of the early great beards of NYC, played some of the finest music ever to crawl into my drunken ears. He retains the same intimidating and generous approach to mezcal: know everything worth knowing about a subject, avoid the garbage, love it, and share.

James Murphy, LCD Soundsystem

The definitive guide to Mexico's best kept secret; Mezcal. Unlike its infamous offspring tequila, until recently you would have had to take a trip to Mexico to try this intriguing spirit. But with Mezcalerias popping up everywhere from New York City to London, Tokyo and beyond, and mezcal increasingly seen on the menus of the most discerning and hippest bars, the agave plant-based alcohol is the cool new drink taking the world by storm. Embark on a regional tour of Mexico and discover local mezcal gems in this illustrated guide to the best 'mezcalerias' (mezcal bars) in the world, then work your way through more than 30 cocktail recipes from the worlds best mezcal bartenders. From backyard heroes to big names, this is a comprehensiveguide fwithover 100 varieties of mezcal, complete with a tasting wheel to help explain the subtleties of this intriguing drink and make you a connoisseur in no time.