Maguey

Maguey is a word frequently used in Mexico for the agave plant and the mezcal made from it. Its use seems to reflect a sense of indigenous ownership over both the plant and spirit. In contrast, the word “agave” is most commonly used in the United States to refer to the plant while the word mezcal is used for the spirit.

The origins of the word “maguey” seem to go back to to the Taino people indigenous to what is today Haiti, Cuba, Puerto Rico, and nearby Caribbean islands.