Mezcalistas

01/09/2026

Mezcalistas' creative director Mariana Garcia is part of a collective called Hacer Tequio Colectivo. Last year they created a beautiful public art project as a tool for collective reflection on water conservation, biodiversity, and a culture of peace for Oaxaca's Río Atoyac. Yesterday, the finished piece, a textile that measures approximately 1.5 meters high by 12.5 meters wide, was stolen. If you are in Oaxaca, please share this information and keep an eye out in case you see or hear anything about the theft.

Mariana García, directora creativa de Mezcalistas, forma parte de un colectivo llamado Hacer Tequio. El año pasado, crearon un hermoso proyecto de arte público como herramienta para la reflexión colectiva sobre la conservación del agua, la biodiversidad y una cultura de paz en el río Atoyac de Oaxaca. Ayer, la obra terminada, un tapiz que mide aproximadamente 1,5 metros de alto por 12,5 metros de ancho, fue robada. Si se encuentran en Oaxaca, por favor, compartan esta información y estén atentos por si ven o escuchan algo sobre el robo.

https://imparcialoaxaca.mx/policiaca/roban-obra-comunitaria-sobre-el-rio-atoyac-en-centro-historico-de-oaxaca/?fbclid=IwY2xjawPN9oFleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEetlru3EU9NSXz658UvAUw2I-Lo4VE1USypd-fM_AJUQ489osEdVD5xclAtT8_aem_-fzeS59Q84V2ohg2Rwpndw

Una pieza textil colectiva sobre el Río Atoyac fue robada de un automóvil en el Centro Histórico; su valor es simbólico y comunitario

01/09/2026

What exactly do coconuts have to do with mezcal? As it turns out quite a lot as Paulina Machuca details in her book Vino de Cocos. Originally published in Spanish, it has now been translated to English and is a must read for anyone interested in the history of mezcal and distillation in Mexico.

Clayton Szczech, author of A Field Guide to Tequila and founder of , breaks it all down for us in his review of the translated version.

"Machuca begins with the ethnobotanical biography of the coconut palm tree, from its origins in India, through the Philippines, to its introduction to New Spain (now Mexico) around 1565. While it is hard to imagine Mexico’s Pacific coast sans coconut palms, this Asian species in fact displaced endemic American palms in the sixteenth century. Machuca elucidates the parallels between coconut palms and agaves: both plants have been revered as sacred and held mythological significance in their lands of origin, and both were called “trees of life,” providing food, shelter, clothing, tools, medicine, and beverages."

The review is everything you want in one, providing just enough highlights from the book to make you want to buy it immediately so you can read it for yourself.

Read the full review, link in bio to Mezcal News or here: https://www.mezcalistas.com/the-origins-of-mezcal-pre-colombian-distilling/

01/07/2026

Happy New Year everyone! We are kicking off 2026 with a terrific story that's all about the semi official drinking glass for mezcal - the vaso veladora.

Many mezcal fans know that these iconic mezcal glasses start out as candle holders. But, as usual, there’s a lot more to it. In Mexico, votives are more than just a source of light; the veladoras or votive candles are powerful symbols that bridge the past and present, the physical and spiritual worlds, and connect communities through shared traditions and faith. Most veladoras hold a white candle symbolizing purity and hope.

Contributor Anna Bruce brings us this story about a family owned veladora factory in Tlacolula, Oaxaca and how these votive candle holders came to be the preferred vestibule for mezcal.

Check out the complete story, link in bio to Mezcal News or here: https://www.mezcalistas.com/advanced-veladoras-a-closer-look-at-the-iconic-mezcal-glass/

Pictured here:
➡ Augustín Luis Luis of in Tlacolula
➡ A vaso veladora with the cruz or cross at the bottom
➡ Pouring hot wax into the vasos to make the veladoras
➡ Veladoras cooling
➡ Finished veladoras
➡ A vaso veladora filled with mezcal

All pictures by .photos

01/05/2026

Interesting story - in SoCal it appears that thieves are targeting the pencas of agave plants. There are some interesting theories as to why...

LOS ANGELES — The unidentified white van slowly and stealthily pulled up outside the million-dollar-plus homes under the cover of darkness, grainy surveillance footage showed.

12/31/2025

Correction: we left out a key word below - Benito Juarez was the first INDIGENOUS president of Mexico…

Our final story of the year comes to us from contributor Holly Devon and it involves a piece of history that is not particularly well known - Mexico's first president Benito Juarez and his time of exile Espíritu Mezcalerias.

At , a mezcal bar in New Orleans, novelist Yuri Herrera and Devon explore the menu, the city’s Latin American layers, and what the legendary Mexican president was up to during his lost years in Louisiana.

"Lacking the means of more aristocratic American rebels like Simón Bolívar, Juárez lived the life of a penniless immigrant. Perhaps this is why there is very little in the records about what he did while he was here. Someone of his status would have lived among the legions who took rooms in popular boarding houses, and he would have had to work. One of the few historical facts we know about his time here is that he made a living rolling ci**rs. On his daily commute to work in the French Quarter, Juárez joined the masses in the streets, and he did his drinking and dancing with the people, not locked away in the elegant courtyards of the well-to-do."

It is a fascinating read. Link in bio to Mezcal News or here: https://www.mezcalistas.com/swamp-spirits-benito-juarez-new-orleans-and-the-pan-american-dream/

12/30/2025

Will 2026 be the year of changes to Mexico's IEPs taxes on alcohol?

Altos impuestos y caída del consumo interno golpean al mezcal artesanal. Productores y legisladores buscan reformar el IEPS para mejorar precios y competitividad.

12/23/2025

In a world in which our "tastes" are guided by marketing, efficiency and profit, can we really be sure of what a true flavor is?

This is the question contributor Omar Muñoz explores in his latest thought provoking piece.

"The global market has captured nearly everything it could capture. Many of the qualities that once defined uniqueness are gradually absorbed by economic logics that favor a standard product, scale, and efficiency. Practices that were once local and handcrafted are often reshaped to meet the demands of volume and consistency. Cultural expressions rooted in community risk being simplified into a limited number of recognizable brands. In this process, sensory richness is frequently diminished, many times not through deliberate intent, but as an outcome of systems that reward optimization. What we consume, in many cases, is no longer the direct continuation of tradition, but the result of market structures that prioritize profitability over lived cultural complexity."

It's a terrific read and comes at the perfect time as the year is coming to an end and we give time for reflection. Link in bio to Mezcal News or here: https://www.mezcalistas.com/the-struggle-for-the-true-taste-of-mezcal/

12/12/2025

It's always inspiring when Tess Rose Lampert comes up with a new perfect pairing, in this case, a winter squash and cheese pastry with hot honey paired with mezcal.

"What with the earthy sweetness and nuttiness of roasted squash, buttery creaminess of the cheese, and sweet and spicy honey, I instantly thought of pairing this with mezcal. I was drawn to the cupreata from for the complimentary sweet, earthy, and creamy notes, as well as the lighter smoke profile, which I felt could overwhelm some of the delicacy of the ingredients. Made from 100% wild agaves in Guerrero, this is a unique and elegant mezcal that pairs beautifully with food."

See the complete tasting notes plus recipe, link in bio to What to Pair With Mezcal or here: https://www.mezcalistas.com/perfect-pairing-rayo-seco-cupreata-and-spicy-winter-squash-pastries/

12/06/2025

$15 million (dollars) is significant...

Aaron Paul and Bryan Cranston's mezcal brand Dos Hombres has secured US$15 million investment to fuel its next phase of expansion.

12/04/2025

Tonite is the final full moon of 2025 and will be a super moon. Ancient farming practices were often times tied to the lunar cycle and mezcal is no exception to this.

Contributor Anna Bruce brings us a piece that explores the relationship between the moon, its cycles and mezcal. How much is myth and how much is science? Anna takes us from a full moon Tapada to conversations with mezcaleros and scientists to explore that very question.

Link to the complete piece is in the link in bio to News or here: https://www.mezcalistas.com/the-moon-and-mezcal-its-more-than-mythology/

12/02/2025

Sotol is having a moment and more and more people are curious about this desert elixir. But where to begin?

Contributor has a solution in her latest DIY tasting guide that is all about Sotol. She focuses on the brand and its three distinct expressions that represent flavors from the mountains and desert of Chihuahua and Durango. She also provides some guidance on things to pair with the sotoles.

Just in time for the holidays, this would make for a great party experience with friends and family.

Link in bio to What to Pair or here: https://www.mezcalistas.com/an-easy-at-home-sotol-tasting-and-pairing/

12/02/2025

The 2025 Mezcal Holiday Gift Guide is live and we've got something for everyone to make your holiday season and gift giving fully mezcalicious!

From exclusive batches to copitas, to books and art, to special experiences and perfect pairings we've got you covered.

Link in bio or here: https://www.mezcalistas.com/2025-annual-mezcal-holiday-gift-guide/