Most of what gets written about tequila is about cocktails or celebrity bottles. A good book goes further: it explains the plant, the people who grow it, what separates one bottle from the next, and how a regional Mexican spirit ended up on bars around the world. Mezcal, the wider family tequila belongs to, deserves the same attention.
There are fewer serious books on the subject than you might expect, and the shelf is padded with novelty titles and thin self-published guides. This page sets out seven by named writers from established publishers, says what the publishers and published reviews report about each, and helps you choose the best tequila book for what you want to learn.
Julia’s earns a commission on purchases made through links on this page, at no cost to you. Recommendations are based on what a Mexican restaurant wants a reader to know about these spirits, publisher information and published reviews, which we cite.
Quick verdict: which tequila book to buy
For most readers the best tequila book is Clayton J. Szczech’s A Field Guide to Tequila: it covers the plant, production, labels, producers and how to taste. If you want the deep story of all agave spirits, choose Gary Paul Nabhan and David Suro Piñera’s Agave Spirits, a James Beard Award winner. If mezcal is your interest, choose Emma Janzen’s Mezcal.
The rest of this page explains why, and where the other four fit. These books are for adults of legal drinking age, so please enjoy what they describe responsibly.
Five books on tequila and mezcal side by side
Five standout books, one for each kind of reader, with details from each publisher or review. All seven are described in full below.
| Book | Best for | Scope | Length | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
A Field Guide to Tequila, Clayton J. SzczechBest overall
|
Learning tequila from the ground up | Tequila: plant, process, labels, producers | 248 pages, hardcover | View on Amazon |
Agave Spirits, Gary Paul Nabhan and David Suro PiñeraBest for depth
|
The full story of agave spirits | Tequila, mezcal, bacanora and pulque | 256 pages, hardcover | View on Amazon |
Mezcal, Emma JanzenBest for mezcal
|
Understanding mezcal | Mezcal history, process and cocktails | 240 pages, hardcover | View on Amazon |
Tequila Wars, Ted GenowaysBest history
|
Reading the history behind the spirit | José Cuervo and the Mexican Revolution | 352 pages, hardcover | View on Amazon |
![Mezcal and Tequila Cocktails: Mixed Drinks for the Golden Age of Agave [A Cocktail Recipe Book]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41J8UixQqLL._SL500_.jpg)
Mezcal and Tequila Cocktails, Robert SimonsonBest for cocktails
|
Mixing agave cocktails at home | Tequila and mezcal cocktails | 176 pages, hardcover | View on Amazon |
Cover images from Amazon. Page counts and formats are for the editions linked; other editions differ.
Our picks for the best tequila book, title by title
These seven run from a first guide to a history of the Mexican Revolution. For each, we give what the publisher and published reviews say it covers, who wrote it, and who it suits. We have not worked through every tasting note or cocktail in them; where we describe a book’s strengths, we say whose view that is.
1. A Field Guide to Tequila, Clayton J. Szczech – The One to Read First
This is the book to buy if you only want one, and if the word tequila still means a shot and a lime to you.
Clayton J. Szczech is a writer and sociologist who has studied and taught about Mexican alcoholic beverages since 2006, according to his publisher, Artisan. He founded the educational tour company Experience Agave in 2008 and cofounded La Cata, a brand-independent tasting room in the town of Tequila, Jalisco, in 2016. This is his first book, an illustrated hardcover of 248 pages.
The publisher lists what it covers: the blue agave plant, how tequila is made, the five classes of tequila, how to read a label, and 17 producers and brands. It also deals with celebrity brands, how to host a tasting and how to visit the town of Tequila, and it ends with a Spanish glossary. There are only four cocktail recipes, including a margarita and a tequila sunrise, so this is a book about the spirit and not a bar manual.
The publisher’s page carries praise from other drinks writers. Camper English says it is now the first book he recommends on the category, and Jim Meehan points to its attention to sustainability. Those are endorsements the publisher chose, so read them that way, but two more of them come from writers with books of their own on the subject, Emma Janzen and Marie Sarita Gaytán.
Why we like it
- Written by someone who has taught the subject since 2006, per Artisan
- Covers agave, production, the five classes and label reading
- Profiles 17 producers and brands
- Includes tasting advice and a guide to the town of Tequila
Key specifications
| Author | Clayton J. Szczech |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Artisan (Workman, Hachette Book Group) |
| Year | 2023 |
| Pages | 248 |
| Format | Hardcover; ebook also available |
| Cocktail recipes | Four |
| Focus | Tequila: agave, production, labels, producers |
| Best for | Readers new to tequila |
Why we recommend it
If you want to understand what is in the bottle and choose your next one with more confidence, start here. Pair it with our guide to tequila types and you have the basics.
Skip it if you want cocktail recipes. The book has four.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Broad and written for beginners too
- Practical label-reading and tasting help
- Includes the people and places behind the spirit
Cons
- Few recipes
- Tequila only; mezcal is covered by other books here
- Producer profiles limited to 17
2. Agave Spirits, Gary Paul Nabhan and David Suro Piñera – Award-Winning History and Science
This book has the strongest outside endorsement on the list: Agave Spirits won the James Beard Foundation’s 2024 book award for Beverage without Recipes, as the foundation’s published list of winners shows.
W. W. Norton published it in May 2023, and Kirkus Reviews lists it at 256 pages. Where the other books here start from the bottle, this one starts from the plant. Kirkus says the authors cover the roughly 215 known agave species and how they become drinks, from high-end tequila to pulque, mezcal and bacanora. It calls the book “A comprehensive, readable exploration of the history and science of tequila, mezcal, and other agave-derived spirits.”
It also has an argument to make. Kirkus reports that the authors criticize large, mostly non-Mexican corporations for clearing land and undermining traditional producers and biodiversity, and that they propose ways to protect agave diversity, including better pay for workers. So expect a book about farming, labor and land as much as flavor.
Kirkus has one complaint: the authors’ puns and playful asides sometimes get in the way of the serious discussion.
Why we like it
- Won the 2024 James Beard award for Beverage without Recipes
- Covers tequila, mezcal, bacanora and pulque
- Kirkus calls it comprehensive and readable
- Takes in the plant, the producers and the land
Key specifications
| Author | Gary Paul Nabhan and David Suro Piñera |
|---|---|
| Publisher | W. W. Norton & Company |
| Year | 2023 |
| Pages | 256 (per Kirkus) |
| Format | Hardcover |
| Cocktail recipes | Not stated |
| Focus | Agave spirits: history, science, sustainability |
| Best for | Readers who want the full picture |
Why we recommend it
Buy it second, after a general guide, or first if you care more about where agave spirits come from than which bottle to buy.
Skip it if you want tasting notes or bottle advice. As Kirkus describes it, this is a work of history and science, not a buying guide.
Pros and cons
Pros
- James Beard Award winner
- Wider scope than tequila alone
- Strong on agave diversity and traditional producers
Cons
- Not a buying guide
- Puns can distract, says Kirkus
- More serious than a casual read
3. Mezcal, Emma Janzen – The Mezcal Book to Own
If mezcal is the spirit that interests you, start here. Our tequila vs mezcal guide explains how the two relate; this book takes the mezcal side much further.
Emma Janzen is a Chicago-based spirits journalist and photographer who has written for The New York Times, Eater and PUNCH, according to her publisher, and she is a certified WSET Agave Master. She took the photographs for this book as well as writing it. Voyageur Press published it in 2017, and the publisher notes that it was nominated for the 2018 James Beard Foundation Book Award in the Beverage category.
The 240 pages explain mezcal’s place in Mexican culture, the process from growing and harvesting agave through roasting, distilling and aging, and the main agave varieties and how each shapes the spirit. It closes with nearly 50 cocktails from bars in the United States and Mexico, so you get both the background and something to do with the bottle.
One thing to weigh: it came out in 2017, so anything it says about particular brands may have moved on. History and production date far more slowly.
Why we like it
- James Beard Foundation Book Award nominee in 2018, per the publisher
- Explains agave varieties and how each shapes the spirit
- Nearly 50 cocktails from bars in the US and Mexico
- The author also took the photographs
Key specifications
| Author | Emma Janzen |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Voyageur Press (Quarto) |
| Year | 2017 |
| Pages | 240 |
| Format | Hardcover (paper over board) |
| Cocktail recipes | Nearly 50 |
| Focus | Mezcal: history, production, agave varieties |
| Best for | Readers curious about mezcal |
Why we recommend it
It suits anyone who has tried mezcal at a bar and wants to know why one bottle tastes so different from the next.
Skip it if tequila is your only interest. The book treats tequila as a relative, not the subject.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Focused on mezcal
- Mixes history, process and cocktails
- Written and photographed by a spirits journalist
Cons
- Published in 2017
- Little on tequila itself
- Not a buying guide
4. Tequila Wars, Ted Genoways – A Revolution Told Through Tequila
This one is narrative history, about the man behind one of the world’s best-known tequila names.
Ted Genoways tells the story of José Cuervo and the business he built during the Mexican Revolution of the 1910s. Kirkus Reviews calls Cuervo a discreet figure who stayed out of view while violence swirled around him, and it lists how he kept the business alive: charitable donations, a showcase at the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair, bribes, press outreach, and help bringing electricity and rail to his region. The diaries of Cuervo’s niece are a vivid source, Kirkus says.
The two trade reviews differ on how it reads. Kirkus says “smart pacing and memorable detail are this book’s primary features”, while also noting that the fast-changing politics can be hard to follow. Publishers Weekly finds the narrative “somewhat dry” despite its murders and battles, but credits Genoways with “a rigorous and unique lens on Mexico’s revolutionary period”.
W. W. Norton published the hardcover in May 2025, and both reviews list it at 352 pages. A paperback edition is also sold.
Why we like it
- A full history of José Cuervo and his business
- Set against the Mexican Revolution
- Reviewed by both Kirkus and Publishers Weekly
- Draws on the diaries of Cuervo’s niece
Key specifications
| Author | Ted Genoways |
|---|---|
| Publisher | W. W. Norton & Company |
| Year | 2025 |
| Pages | 352 (per Kirkus and Publishers Weekly) |
| Format | Hardcover; paperback also sold |
| Cocktail recipes | Not stated |
| Focus | History: José Cuervo and the Mexican Revolution |
| Best for | History readers |
Why we recommend it
It suits readers who like business history and Mexican history, and anyone who wants a story to go with the spirit. It would also be a good gift for a tequila drinker who already owns a guide.
Skip it if you want to learn how to taste or buy tequila. It is a history, not a guide to the bottle.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Detailed history, per Kirkus
- Vivid primary source in the niece’s diaries
- Unusual angle on the Revolution
Cons
- Publishers Weekly finds it somewhat dry
- Shifting politics can be hard to follow
- Not a tasting or buying guide
5. The Essential Tequila & Mezcal Companion, Tess Rose Lampert – Tasting Notes for Both Spirits
If you want one book that covers both spirits and helps you pick bottles, this is the closest match here.
Tess Rose Lampert has worked in agave spirits for more than a decade, according to her publisher, Union Square & Co., as an educator and writer. She founded PalateTrip, a consulting company for agave spirit brands and restaurants in the United States, and she leads educational tours across Mexico. That brand consulting is worth keeping in mind when you read any bottle recommendation.
The 304-page hardcover came out in 2023. The publisher describes a guide to the history and production of tequila and mezcal, stocking a bar, organizing tastings with food pairings, and making infused syrups for cocktails. Its core is about 300 tasting notes with producer profiles, plus more than 30 cocktail recipes and a reference section.
Those tasting notes are the reason to buy it, and also the part that will date first, since brands and bottlings change. Treat them as a starting point. Our guide to the best tequila glasses covers what to pour into.
Why we like it
- About 300 tasting notes with producer profiles
- Covers both tequila and mezcal
- Guidance on tastings with food pairings
- More than 30 cocktail recipes
Key specifications
| Author | Tess Rose Lampert |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Union Square & Co. (Hachette Book Group) |
| Year | 2023 |
| Pages | 304 |
| Format | Hardcover; ebook also available |
| Cocktail recipes | More than 30 |
| Focus | Tequila and mezcal: selecting, tasting, collecting |
| Best for | Home bars and collectors |
Why we recommend it
Choose it if you are building a home bar and want a reference to pull down when you compare bottles, or if you plan to host a tasting.
Skip it if you want a story or a deep history. It is a reference, and this pick rests on the listing and the publisher’s description.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Covers both spirits
- Large set of tasting notes
- Practical help for hosting
Cons
- Tasting notes date as brands change
- Author consults for agave brands
- No published review cited here
6. Mezcal and Tequila Cocktails, Robert Simonson – All Agave for the Home Bar
This is the one cocktail book on the list, and it earns its place because it stays on agave from start to finish. If you already know how you like your margarita, it shows you what else tequila and mezcal can do.
Publishers Weekly describes Robert Simonson as a food writer and names his earlier book The Martini Cocktail. Ten Speed Press published this 176-page hardcover in 2021. The same review calls it “an eclectic compilation of recipes for mezcal and tequila cocktails” and mentions a history section, brand-specific recipes and a chart pairing classic cocktails with mezcal versions.
The review’s verdict is short: “Agave lovers will be in heaven.” Brand-specific recipes do mean some drinks are written around a particular bottle, so you may need to substitute. For equipment, our home margarita bar guide lists what is worth buying, and the best cocktail shaker for margaritas covers the shaker.
Why we like it
- All agave, unlike general cocktail books
- Warmly reviewed by Publishers Weekly
- Includes a history section
- Chart pairs classic cocktails with mezcal versions
Key specifications
| Author | Robert Simonson |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Ten Speed Press (Penguin Random House) |
| Year | 2021 |
| Pages | 176 |
| Format | Hardcover |
| Cocktail recipes | Not stated |
| Focus | Tequila and mezcal cocktails |
| Best for | Home bartenders |
Why we recommend it
It suits anyone who already enjoys these spirits and mostly wants to mix with them, and it pairs well with a guide such as Szczech’s or Janzen’s.
Skip it if you sip your tequila neat. It is a recipe book first.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Agave-only focus
- Trade review praise
- Useful chart for reworking classics
Cons
- Some recipes name specific brands
- Not a full guide to the spirits
- Recipe count not confirmed
7. The Tequila Bible, Eric Zandona – A New Bottle-by-Bottle Guide
This is the newest book here, and potentially the most useful one if you are standing in the liquor aisle and want a view on a specific bottle.
Octopus publishes it; its UK page gives an on-sale date of August 2026, and the Amazon listing gives September 2026 for this hardcover under the Mitchell Beazley imprint. Octopus says it profiles more than 200 tequilas, from established brands to small craft distilleries, with flavor notes and suggestions for how to drink each one. It also includes 20 tequila cocktail recipes and explains how to read a tequila label.
Because it is so new, this pick rests on the listing and the publisher’s details. Publishers Weekly had no review of it when we checked, and the publisher’s page gives no page count and little about Eric Zandona beyond calling him a bestselling author. We cannot tell you how the bottle notes hold up, which is why it sits last on this list.
A bottle-by-bottle guide will also date faster than a history, though for now being the most recent title here is a real advantage.
Why we like it
- Profiles more than 200 tequilas, per the publisher
- Spans large brands and small craft distilleries
- Flavor notes and serving suggestions for each
- Explains how to read a label
Key specifications
| Author | Eric Zandona |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Mitchell Beazley (Octopus) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Pages | Not stated |
| Format | Hardcover; ebook also available |
| Cocktail recipes | 20 |
| Focus | Tequila: bottle profiles and label reading |
| Best for | Shoppers comparing specific bottles |
Why we recommend it
Choose it if you already know the basics and want a broad, current directory of bottles to work through.
Skip it if you want a book with a track record. We have no published review to cite for it yet.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Most recent title here
- More than 200 tequila profiles
- Includes label reading and cocktails
Cons
- No published review to cite yet
- Page count not stated
- Little author detail on the publisher’s page
How to choose a book about tequila and mezcal
The subject is narrower than Mexican cooking, but these books still do very different jobs. These five questions will narrow them down.
1. Tequila, mezcal or both?
Szczech and Zandona write about tequila. Janzen writes about mezcal. Lampert, Simonson and the authors of Agave Spirits cover both. If you are not sure of the difference, read our guide to tequila vs mezcal first; it will show you which side you want.
2. Do you want to understand it, or to buy it?
Field guides and histories explain the spirit, and that knowledge holds up for years. Bottle directories such as Lampert’s and Zandona’s help you shop, but brands, bottlings and owners change, so their notes age sooner. Many readers will want one of each.
3. Reading book or recipe book?
Only Simonson’s is mainly recipes. Janzen’s has nearly 50 cocktails, Lampert’s more than 30, Zandona’s 20 and Szczech’s only four. If you want to mix more than you read, buy for the recipes.
4. How much do you care about where it comes from?
Agave Spirits goes furthest on farming, labor and biodiversity, and Szczech’s book also pays attention to the people and communities around tequila, according to the writers quoted by his publisher. Tequila Wars looks at the same industry through one man’s business, more than a century ago.
5. How new does it need to be?
Check the publication year if you want current brand information. A 2026 bottle guide and a 2017 history do different jobs: the history stays useful, while a list of brands from that long ago would need checking. Our guide to tequila types covers the terms that do not change.
How we picked these seven books
We went through the Amazon book listings for tequila, mezcal and agave titles and kept only books that were in stock on Amazon in the United States when we checked, from a named author and an established publisher. We left out novelty titles, general cocktail books, books that use tequila only in the title, and anonymous or self-published guides. Some titles were left out because stock was limited, among them Finding Mezcal and Tequila: A Global History, so everything here can be bought today. We took authors, dates, formats and page counts from the publishers (Artisan, Union Square & Co., Quarto, Octopus), from the Amazon listings and from reviews, took awards from the James Beard Foundation and the publisher, and quoted reviews from Kirkus Reviews and Publishers Weekly. Where a pick rests on the listing and publisher details alone, the entry says so. We have not tasted the bottles these books describe, and we report what publishers and reviewers say.
Tequila book questions, answered
What is the best book about tequila for a beginner?
A Field Guide to Tequila by Clayton J. Szczech. Its publisher presents it as a guide for beginners and experts alike, and it covers the plant, the production process, the five classes and how to read a label.
What is the best book on mezcal?
Emma Janzen’s Mezcal is the most focused book here, and it was a James Beard Foundation Book Award nominee. Agave Spirits is the wider choice, covering mezcal alongside tequila, bacanora and pulque.
Are there books about tequila and mezcal together?
Yes. The Essential Tequila & Mezcal Companion by Tess Rose Lampert covers both, with about 300 tasting notes, and Robert Simonson’s Mezcal and Tequila Cocktails covers both for mixing.
Is there a good history of tequila?
Tequila Wars by Ted Genoways tells the story of José Cuervo during the Mexican Revolution, and Agave Spirits covers the wider history of agave drinks. Choose Tequila Wars for a narrative and Agave Spirits for breadth.
Which tequila book makes the best gift?
For a drinker who likes cocktails, Mezcal and Tequila Cocktails. For someone who already knows the spirit, Tequila Wars or Agave Spirits. A Field Guide to Tequila works for almost anyone newer to it.
Our choice for a first tequila shelf
Start with A Field Guide to Tequila, then add Agave Spirits for depth, or Mezcal if the smokier side of the family is what caught your interest. Add a bottle reference only when you are actively shopping. Our tequila vs mezcal guide is a good first read, and if food is your next step, the best Mexican cookbooks cover the kitchen side.
And if you would rather someone else did the pouring, see our drinks and the menu, or call to order.