In Spanish, cola means the “tail” which corresponds exactly with its meaning in the mezcal world, where it refers to the final component of the distillation.
During distillation, the liquid that emerges from the still is divided into three parts; the beginning, middle, and end of each distillation. The distilling world generally refers to these as the head, heart or body, and tail of a distillation run. In Mexico they are referred to as the puntas, cuerpo or corazón, and colas. Each contains different chemicals, with the most toxic components concentrated in the puntas.
A small portion is frequently blended into a mezcal in order to balance out flavors or the final ABV.
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