There’s a saying in Oaxaca that “mezcal will find you.” That was certainly true on my recent trip, where the spirit seemed nearly inescapable. Oaxaca is the mezcal capital of the world, and here, it’s a part of daily life. Not a meal went by without a mezcal digestif, and the more I sipped, the more I wanted to learn. Mezcal opens a doorway to understanding Oaxaca’s rich cultural traditions, whether you’re visiting agave farms and distilleries or tasting the spirit at the city’s top gastronomic venues.

What Is Mezcal?

Like tequila, mezcal is a spirit distilled from agave. The process begins with harvesting mature plants, the hearts of which are roasted, creating that distinctive flavor. (Tequila can be made only from the blue agave species, and the hearts are not roasted.) The agave hearts are subsequently crushed, fermented and distilled. Most mezcal is made in Oaxaca, often in small, family-owned distilleries called palenques. There are countless varieties of mezcal made from various agave species, resulting in diverse flavor profiles that range from sweet to smoky to earthy.

Mezcal Tours

The Travel Office can arrange a mezcal-focused day trip from Oaxaca, during which you’ll meet with agave farmers and learn about the entire fermentation and distillation process from plant to bottle. Members who are keen on having an immersive experience should consider an overnight at Casa Silencio, a mezcal distillery and ecolodge an hour southeast of Oaxaca City. Each stay comes with a complimentary tour of the facilities, followed by an in-depth tasting of various El Silencio-brand mezcals, some of which can only be purchased at the property.