Mezcalistas

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/

11/22/2025

Time to redo the mezcal denominacion de origen map - Estado de Mexico has been added to the DO.

Bajo el liderazgo de la Gobernadora Delfina Gómez Álvarez, el Gobierno del Estado de México celebra un hecho histórico para el campo y la identidad cultural mexiquense: la declaración oficial de De…

11/21/2025

Buried in the Shanken News Daily newsletter today:

"Mezcal El Silencio has returned to shelves across the U.S., following the brand’s acquisition by IJW Whiskey. With the relaunch, El Silencio’s portfolio consists of three mezcals—Espadín ($40), Ensamble ($80), and Rare ($200)—all distilled in San Baltazar, Oaxaca. To celebrate the return, the brand is also kicking off a new campaign, “Find Your Silence,” encouraging consumers to find moments of stillness and peace. Along with the ad, El Silencio partnered with bartender Diego Livera to create a new signature cocktail, “Piñata de Navidad.” Last year, El Silencio was at 29,000 cases in the U.S., according to Impact Databank."

Here's a link to a story with more detail -

IJW Whiskey has acquired Mezcal El Silencio for an undisclosed sum, with its co-founders thought to have left the business.

11/18/2025

Just when we thought things couldn't get any crazier...

Pictured above are screenshots of lab analysis results for Centenario and Don Julio tequilas done by Eurofins Lab in France. Both show that parameters are not in agreement with those seen for 100% tequila.

This is just part of the latest story from which provides a timeline of events since January. She also spoke with Remberto Galván who has given us permission to release the names of two heretofore unnamed brands that were part of his first denuncia as well as who is involved in the second denuncia he just filed, as well as his very real concerns about personal safety.

As Felisa explains in her piece:

"But this issue is about much more than just the question of quality standards in the tequila industry... In a nutshell: this is a story about giant corporations allegedly colluding with a regulatory agency to improve their profit margins. By allegedly adulterating tequila with industrial alcohol, these players are devaluing the price of agave. This is unfair to both the agaveros and the legitimate distillers who are still making real tequila with care and at much greater cost.

It’s also a tale of courage in the face of enormous danger. Since beginning this crusade, Remberto Galván has been abducted and beaten. Two other agavero leaders, Julián Rodríguez and Salvador Ibarra, were arrested for protesting outside of the Sauza distillery and held in jail for 72 days. We are seriously concerned for the safety of everyone who continues to speak out on this issue."

Link in bio to News to read the complete story or here: https://www.mezcalistas.com/tequila-test-results-revealed-death-threats-and-other-tequila-news/

11/12/2025

Meet Luis Loya, the man behind and . He is the focus of our latest In His Own Words interview in which we go behind the usual questions to understand a person's journey into agave spirits. Luis has built a portfolio represents some of the lesser-known styles and regions from all over Mexico, including Nuevo León, Tamaulipas, Chihuahua, Durango, Sonora, and Oaxaca.

Tess Rose Lampert takes us from Luis's beginnings on a ranch in Chihuahua to his current role as an advocate for preserving mezcal traditions. It's an interesting journey that encompasses time spent studying not only in Mexico, but also in the US and Spain where he earned a master's degree in Design.

How did he end up in agave spirits? Link in bio to News to read about his full or here: https://www.mezcalistas.com/in-his-own-words-who-is-luis-loya/

Luis (on the right) is pictured here with mezcalero Modesto Terán. They are examining a traditional coa used Tamaulipas.

11/06/2025

Who else is getting hit hard with the recent time change? Luckily, Tess Rose Lampert has a cure with her new perfect pairing - a simple margarita and stuffed jalapeño peppers.

Says "This perfect pairing is all about leaning into measured indulgence and creating little moments of luxury and comfort. I was inspired by wanting to create a tempting but simple date night at home, and this perfect pairing is equally enjoyable whether spoiling yourself, trying to impress a potential lover to stay warm with over the winter, or to show care and appreciation for loved ones."

In the piece she talks how to make an utterly simple margarita that allows the tequila to shine through, what the stuffed jalapeños bring to the table and of course recipes for everything.

Link in bio to What to Pair with Mezcal or here: https://www.mezcalistas.com/perfect-pairing-margarita-and-potato-stuffed-jalapenos/

11/05/2025

Diageo filed its second motion to dismiss the class action lawsuit against, this time in New York. The company stated “We have moved to dismiss this complaint as the allegations are implausible, lacking legal and logical merit,” a Diageo spokesperson told db. “All bottled Casamigos and Don Julio tequilas labelled as ‘100% agave’ are just that, proudly made from 100% Blue Weber agave.”

Diageo has filed its second motion in a matter of days to dismiss class actions alleging its Casamigos and Don Julio Tequilas contain non-agave alcohol. The drinks giant calls the New York case “implausible” and “manufactured”, standing firm on its claim that both brands are “proudly made ...

11/05/2025

A few weeks ago, New York was host to the first ever Sotol Week. Organized by , it involved a week of sotol focused activities across New York bars and restaurants. Is this the push that will finally push sotol to center stage?

Tess Rose Lampert was on hand. She looks at the why now, how it went, and the current and projected market for the spirit in her latest piece for us. Link in bio to news or here to get the details: https://www.mezcalistas.com/a-very-surprising-new-york-sotol-week/

Photos from

11/02/2025

What we are sipping in honor of Día de Mu***os - three special releases that are distilled with Cempasúchil (Marigold). These flowers are central to Dia de Mu***os celebrations and are the foundation for all altars. Why? Its strong scent is thought to help guide the ancestors home.

These three mezcales all share some similar traits: the bottles and label designs are gorgeous, they are all utterly delicious, and while they celebrate Dia de Mu***os, these would also be great for all holiday celebrations this fall.

Pictured here are:
➡ Salvadores Destilado con Cempasúchil. Says event manager Cristina Clark Gutiérrez "This special edition really captures the spirit of Día de los Mu***os — the balance between joy and remembrance. It feels floral and bright but also grounded and reflective. Each element comes together with an easy grace, the kind that invites you to slow down and savor it." Read her complete tasting notes, link in bio to Tasting Notes or here: https://www.mezcalistas.com/salvadores-destilado-con-cempasuchil-tasting-notes/

➡ Bozal Ancestral Cempasúchil Reserva. A big huge flavor bomb that continues to grow in your mouth and chest, literally warming your soul! It is a clay pot distillation from Etla, Oaxaca made by mezcalero Marcelino Ortiz with Agave Espadin with Cempasúchil and mandarin peels added in the third distillation. So much citrus on the nose and again, that flavor that just keeps going and going.

➡ Antigua Ilusión Mandarina y Cempasúchil. This is another clay pot distillation and is from Santa Catarina Minas. It is produced by mezcalero Adrian Canales, the brother of Alexis Canales who produces Says Susan "I have been holding onto this bottle since I got it in Oaxaca in March, waiting for Día de Mu***os. and it was so worth the wait! The mandarin and cempasúchil are so subtle making the espadin the true star of this bottle!"

Feliz Día de Mu***os a todos.

***os ́chil

11/01/2025

Nothing like a breaking story on a late Friday afternoon - especially on Halloween.

Another class action lawsuit was filed today in Florida, this time against Costco and its Kirkland Signature Tequilas. This one also cites adulteration found through NMR testing, as with the other lawsuits.

has the details. Link in bio to News or here: https://www.mezcalistas.com/costco-implicated-in-adulterated-tequila-scandal/

10/31/2025

Check out our review of Anna Bruce's new book Tequila, Mezcal & More.

Published in the United Kingdom, it is a book intended for its growing market of “mezcal curious” folks, or frankly anyone just beginning their mezcal journey. We can think of the UK as where the US market was in 2015, on the verge of a huge growth run. This is the perfect book to meet this time, with the added bonus that the writer has lived in Oaxaca for the past 12 years, photographing and researching mezcal. Anna’s voice is one of lived experience when it comes to seeing the world of mezcal and its evolution first-hand. It is why she is a long time contributing writer to Mezcalistas and why we value her insight on issues and producers.

Link in bio to News for the full review or here: https://www.mezcalistas.com/book-review-tequila-mezcal-and-more/

10/30/2025

It all comes down to whether or not the courts accept the company in Europe doing these tests...

Diageo has filed a motion to dismiss a US class action lawsuit alleging its Don Julio and Casamigos tequila brands are not sourced entirely from agave, calling the claims “implausible” and “lacking legal and logical merit.”