★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Ade Bro
Great choice of beers and wine. My favorite beer shop ever!!
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Alexandre Coates
Great local shop, very friendly staff and delicious drinks. Great selection of non-alcoholic beers as well
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Andrea Pecorelli
I had a great experience at this beer shop. My girlfriend and I came in looking for three beers as a gift for her fat...
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Andrew Maudsley
Great selection and prices
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
bala
Great bottle shop with just the nicest person at the shop! Very attentive and helpful. Definitely recommend checking ...
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
David pereira
Best bottle shop in Edinburgh, great selection of beers and super helpful staff. My go to for sour beer.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Emily Paul
A phenomenal selection of products that is perhaps only surpassed by how phenomenal their staff is - I went in lookin...
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Gezuz Kryst
Great selection with friendly staff.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Giblet Gravy
Absolutely superb selection and even better service. I was given great recommendations that suited my needs, and the ...
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Glenn Kent
Dear owner my friend and his wife were there on holiday and found me a bottle of Blantons Gold I have been wanting a ...
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
joshua brimdyr
Finest and greatest depth of beers for sale in Edinburgh. The owner is super knowledgeable and helpful. There was a c...
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Kenny McCartney
Can't believe I've failed to give a good review of this place before. I've been frequenting this place fo...
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Laura Gutiérrez
Una selección muy buena de cerveza. Nos atendió un chico muy amable detallandonos muy bien el producto a pesar de ser...
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Lauren
Popped in a few nights ago for some gifts. Great customer experience, they listened to what I was looking for and cam...
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Lee Traversari
Spotted on my drive to my last customer, so glad I spotted it. By far one of the best bottle shops I've had the p...
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Mark Muir
The Beerhive is simply the best,very friendly knowledgeable staff,always have an extensive range of beers.🍻
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Michael Zenkl
Excellent selection, very kind and knowledgeable co-owner! Thank you, I walked out with 8 exceptional bottles of wine!
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
New Fads
Great guys, amazing selection and super knowledgeable! The best.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Owen Frost
Our local bottle shop!Absolutely top service everytime we go in! Team are always so friendly and knowledgeable.Always...
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Rachel Wade
Always a pleasure to visit, a real asset to the community, we would be lost without Team Beerhive! Helpful, friendly ...
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Ross Cooper
Great little beer and wine place
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Ross Fraser
Huge selection of quality beers and an execllent local delivery service. I ordered on Thursday night and had the beer...
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Ryan Collman
Been buying beer from Peter and Richard for nearly 8 years now. Definitely the best beer shop in town.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Seoridh Fraser
Excellent selection across a broad range of price points and styles and thats just the wine. The Beerhive has been ah...
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Sian Buchan
excellent wee shop with great staff and wonderful selection - lots of stuff that isn't beer too, picked up a few ...
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Steven Halkett
Awesome bottle shop. Totally out of my way but I will return many times
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Stig E
Meget godt utvalg i ØL
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Tara M
Great selection and service with a smile! I was really pleased with their delivery options and frequency. I am cancel...
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Tom Hutchinson
An obviously great passion project bottle shop which I'm embarrassed it took me so long to visit. Great selection...
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Zera Esham
Great place for exciting craft beers with an excellent wine selection as well. The staff are knowledgeable and friend...

Collection: Tequila and Mezcal

Tequila and mezcal both come from agave, but they follow different traditions. Tequila can only be made from Blue Weber agave, while mezcal can be produced from dozens of different agave varieties, each bringing its own character. Once you start exploring, it's easy to see why Mexico's agave spirits are every bit as varied as wine or whisky.

Explore More of Our Collection

Tequila and mezcal are two of Mexico’s most distinctive spirits, both made from agave but shaped by different regions, agave varieties and production methods. Tequila is produced specifically from blue Weber agave, primarily in Jalisco, and is typically cleaner, brighter and more citrus-driven in style. Mezcal is a broader category of agave spirit made from many different agave varieties, often using traditional pit-roasting methods that give the spirit its characteristic smoky, earthy and savoury complexity.

While tequila tends to focus on precision, freshness and oak ageing, mezcal often highlights regional identity, wild agave varieties and small-scale artisanal production. Fermentation methods, roasting techniques and still type all play major roles in shaping the final spirit, creating everything from crisp cocktail-friendly tequila to deeply complex and intensely smoky mezcal.

Our range focuses on flavour-forward agave spirits across both traditional and modern styles, including blanco tequila, reposado, añejo, artisanal mezcal, wild agave bottlings and approachable everyday pours. Alongside larger historic producers, the collection also includes smaller distilleries and independent projects working with traditional techniques and lower-intervention production.

Expect flavours of citrus, herbs, pepper, roasted agave, smoke, spice and mineral earthiness alongside spirits suited to Margaritas, Palomas, Mezcal Negronis or slow sipping neat. Oak-aged expressions bring additional notes of vanilla, caramel and baking spice, while traditional mezcal often leans more savoury, smoky and vegetal.

Whether you prefer the cleaner profile of tequila or the more complex and rustic character of mezcal, agave spirits remain one of the most exciting, diverse and fast-evolving categories in modern spirits.

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

What is tequila?

Tequila is a distilled spirit made from blue Weber agave and produced in specific regions of Mexico, known for its clean, agave-forward flavour.

What is mezcal?

Mezcal is a traditional Mexican spirit made from agave plants, known for its wide variety of agave types and its distinctive smoky flavour.

What is the difference between tequila and mezcal?

Tequila is made only from blue agave and usually has a cleaner, smoother flavour, while mezcal can be made from many types of agave and is typically more smoky and complex.

Why does mezcal taste smoky?

Mezcal gets its smoky flavour from roasting agave hearts in underground pit ovens during production.

Is tequila a type of mezcal?

Yes. Tequila is technically a type of mezcal, but it is made under stricter rules using only blue agave.

Which is stronger, tequila or mezcal?

Both are similar in alcohol strength, but mezcal can sometimes feel stronger or more intense due to its flavour profile and production style.

How should tequila and mezcal be drunk?

Both can be enjoyed neat, sipped slowly, or used in cocktails depending on the style and quality of the spirit.