Everything, Even the Worm

This book is about as comprehensive as it gets when it comes to explaining everything you need to know about tequila and its cousins, like mezcal and sotol. The useful armchair-guide covers Mayahuel, the Aztec goddess of agave; defines the NOMs, or official Mexican regulations; describes many brands sold in Mexico and the United States; and explains various cocktails.

“The Tequila Dictionary: An A-Z of All Things Tequila, Mezcal and Agave Spirits” by Eric Zandona (Mitchell Beazley, $20).

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Florence Fabricant is a food and wine writer. She writes the weekly Front Burner and Off the Menu columns, as well as the Pairings column, which appears alongside the monthly wine reviews. She has also written 12 cookbooks.

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