Not sure where you are that mezcal is cheaper than Tequila, Bud. But I want to be there.

Pulque, the original Aztec beverage, is very light in alcohol, has a mild, slightly fizzy or acidic taste, and is said to confer all manner of health benefits on those wise enough to consume it. AFAIK, you cannot buy pulque in stores because it resists bottling or canning. You must drink it fresh. I have had most often at local ferias and fiestas, though I do know of restaurants—Doña Yolanda in Tlaxcala comes to mind—that offer it as a matter of course. In my experience, curadas are simply pulque with added flavors, not my cup of tea, but YMMV.

There are two basic categories of mezcal: ahumado (smoked) and non-ahumado. I prefer the ahumado, but not too ahumado. This is akin to overly hopped IPAs.

Some argue that tequila is really a variety of mezcal, which must be produced in Jalisco and possess a relatively typical flavor profile.