Mezcalistas

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/

11/26/2025

This past June we had the incredible opportunity to visit Don Miguel Ángel Pérez Reséndiz and his family of . Over the years we have seen Don Miguel at various mezcal events in both Mexico in CDMX at the events and in the US at in Chicago but nothing is like seeing a mezcalero in his element.

In her recent profile on the brand and family, contributor Joahna Hernandez notes that it's not just about mezcal, it's about family stretched across a border to Chicago and why for Don Miguel, leaving his home, and his mezcal, was never an option. Joahna reflects on this binational existence:

"In a state that exports fruit and mezcal—and people—the Pérez family remains rooted while still reaching across borders. Their ability to move fluidly between Michoacán and Chicago represents more than migration—it represents circulation. Just as bats pollinate maguey across long distances, families like theirs carry skills, capital, and culture back and forth. Each trip north brings bottles and stories; each return south brings resources, ideas, and hope."

Link in bio to Mezcal New to read the complete story, or here: https://www.mezcalistas.com/a-visit-to-michoacans-palomas-mensajeras/

Pictured above
➡ Don Miguel and his wife Manuela at the Palomas Mensajeras vinata
➡ The road sign advertising the vinata nestled among agave and fields
➡ The view of Lake Patzcuaro from the vinata

11/25/2025

Yay, photos from Mexico in a Bottle San Francisco! All photos by Christianne Kotoff.

11/25/2025

It's not often we get to talk about rock stars that come to Mexico in a Bottle but at last Sunday's event in San Francisco guests had the opportunity to meet Miguel Angel Partida Rivera who was there with his family's agave distillate brand . His family has been producing mezcal for at least five generations in Zapotitlan de Vadillo, Jalisco. At the family ranch, they grow 16 varieties of agave from seed, 15 of which are sub varieties of Angustifolia.

Because they are outside the DO of mezcal, they cannot call their distillates by that name. And because they do not singularly use the tequilana weber and their have an ancestral production process, they cannot call their spirits tequila even though geographically they could. In short they are a legend, even though (and probably because) they only produce 2500-3000 liters a year.

We had a chance to catch up with Don Miguel the day after the event at an industry tasting at . In this video, Don Miguel is explaining how they measure the ABV of the mezcal during production.

If you want to know more about Chacolo, check out the website and do a search for that name. It is really an incredible story and their work is integral and important in understanding traditional mezcal. And thank you for making this possible!

11/22/2025

Happy Friday everyone. It's been an intense couple of weeks so we thought we should do something a little less heavy...

Social media can be a challenging place for alcohol brands, especially when it comes to content that balances education with personality. Contributor Macey Wolfer looks at a few brands that are executing that challenge well in her latest piece for us.

"Whether they’re communicating their core values or promoting a product launch, these brands are effectively enticing their audience to engage with them in meaningful ways. "

So, who are the brands? Check out the full piece, link in bio to News or here: https://www.mezcalistas.com/6-mezcal-brands-that-are-killing-it-on-social-media/