Mezcal represents the Mexican spirit, and despite being a common drink in Mexico, it originates from Oaxaca. Over 90% of Mexico mezcal is produced in Oaxaca, thus explaining the many Oaxaca mezcal tours in the region.
Mezcal culture is part of the local life of the Oaxaca community, representing their agave spirit. Visitors and locals alike enjoy mezcal tours to palenques. The tours offer them a chance to learn about the originality of the mezcal drink, and a chance to sample the traditional brewed drink from the farm to the glass.
The good thing is, even non-alcohol drinkers can participate in the mezcal tour to feel the Oaxacan community spirit that is celebrated over the world.
Top 3 Best Oaxaca Mezcal Tours
Mezcal Educational Oaxaca Tours
This is an educational tour that provides the history, and culture of Mexico, articulating the national spirit of Mexico through Oaxaca city.
You have a chance to visit Oaxacan villages in San Pablo Villa de Mitla (Mitla), and the furthest Santiago Matalan.
Santiago Matatlan is the World Capital of Mezcal, as most of the mezcal drink comes from here, including artisan mezcaleros that purely use traditional methods to make the drink.
Mitla is considered a magic town with a rich history, culture, ancient ruins, and unique architecture. The town is referred to as ‘la bebida de los dioses’ or ‘the drink of the gods”
The tour guide walks you through the rows of agave, and you are allowed to take photos, during the Mezcal factory tour. After tasting and finishing the process, you’ll proceed to have a traditional Oaxacan lunch.
Ancestral Mezcal Tours
The existence of this location is a confirmation that the drink might have existed in the location, before the arrival of Europeans.
Historians indicate that mezcal originated 400 years ago, upon the arrival of Spanish Conquistadors in Mexico. A myth debunked by the existence of ‘Last ancestral Mezcal in Oaxaca’.
Specifically, alcohol distillation existed earlier before the Spaniards showed up in Oaxaca.
The tour allows you to learn about prehispanic mezcal and its significance not only to the Oaxaca population but Mexico culture at large.
Most importantly, you learn about the Palenque, considered the most unique distillery in Oaxaca.
You also have a chance to learn about the traditional plants in the region and cultural practices of the community. Therefore, if interested in culture, and traditions, then go for this tour and enjoy the ambiance of the environment, and hospitable guests.
Casa Convite Mezcal Tour
Casa Convite is found in downtown Oaxaca city. It borders the small town of Tlacolula Oaxaca, which if you get time take the trip down there, as it is worth it.
Tlacolula hosts some of the oldest markets in North America. The markets sell the most natural and local ingredients used in making Oaxacan meals.
You have a chance to learn about the local food and mezcal drink at the same time. More so, the lessons provided are very detailed, but simple, making it hard to forget.
After touring the Tlacolula market, visit the Casa Convite Palenque, the first commercial operational distillery in the area. You have a chance to taste various flavors of the mezcal drink without restrictions.
So, what is Mezcal?
It is a distilled spirit produced from agave plants found in different Mexican states. Mezcal is a unique drink because of the complexities involved in growing the agave, its production, and the culture around the plant. Most importantly, the variety of rich flavors, and aromas make the drink more appealing and worth tasting.
Therefore, mezcal is special because of how and where it is produced, including its distilled form. While many associate mezcals with tequila, Gabriel Gracier, in his blog Chef Travel Guide indicates that tequila is a type of mezcal, while mezcal is sometimes a type of tequila. Strange right?
This is what you need to understand..
The Small Palenques of Oaxaca
When you visit Oaxaca, it will not take you long before realizing that the city represents the paradise of mezcal. Mezcal is a common liquor with bars devoted to providing the drink to locals, and visitors, thus enshrined in the sipping spirit.
The small palenques of Oaxaca are mezcal distilleries that are situated within small towns, a few hours apart. This has prompted travelers that understand the mezcal culture to book the Oaxaca mezcal tours in advance, and include it in the ‘to do’ list.
The tours take you to a Palenque to understand the preparation process of the drink, and even taste if you like alcohol. The most superlative experience includes the hands-on survey of mezcal production.
You have to be introduced to the agave species in the agave fields, turning mezcal Palenque into a learning class.
Why a Oaxaca Mezcal Tour?
Booking the Oaxaca mezcal tour is a must for anyone visiting the state, because of the opportunity to learn more about mezcal and the entire process. Imagine learning to taste and sip mezcal based on the available variety of flavor profiles and remaining safe from hangover-inducing additives. That’s an experience you will have when you go on a Oaxaca Mezcal tour.
Having a chance to meet the mezcaleros dedicated to the lengthy craft of producing the mezcal drink makes you appreciate the process.
Also, when you visit the small batch mezcal producers, you develop a new appreciation by helping to preserve the livelihood and tradition, which is passed from one generation to the next.
The Ecosystem of the Oaxaca Mezcal Distillery
While taking the Oaxaca Mezcal tour, the most intriguing part includes observing the agaves moved to milpas, as they await to mature.
Agave plants are sensitive to their surroundings, and will only produce quality mezcal, when they are nurtured, and nourished effectively at the distillery.
The mezcaleros ensure the agave stays hydrated, by transplanting them in rows, at the edge of every terrace of the field, scaling downfield.
This is to allow water from rain and neighboring man-made lakes to trickle down, right from the top tiers to the bottom. The process keeps the crops nourished as it grows. More so, it is a way to save water by using small amounts and reducing waste.
One of the intriguing parts of growing Agave includes the aspect of growing corn and beans that provide nutrients to the soil to allow the agave plants to grow. This strategy has helped Oaxacan people preserve their culture of mezcal drink, and at the same time ensure food availability to the community.
The community eats corn and beans to remain strong when tending to their farms. Also, the corn leftovers provide food to the small animals preserving a balanced ecosystem.
Leftover fibers from beans and distillation and the used cols are decomposed back in the soil to add nutrients for future plowing.
The whole process is not just about producing mezcal but creating a sustainable ecosystem that safeguards the future of the coming generations.
Why a Oaxaca Mezcal Tour is Special
The most amazing part is getting hands-on experience working on a farm. While on the farm, the mezcaleros give you a chance to plant your own agave. You select the best variety, transplant it into a cornfield, give it a name, and put a sign. So, when you come back to visit again, you will see your mature maguey.
And if lucky, during your second or third visit, you can buy a bottle from the same batch of agave that you planted. Thus, have a distillery experience of your own plant.
You have a chance to learn how mezcal is made guided by a master mezcal distiller. Not forgetting a chance to taste different mezcal varieties.
Mezcal Palenques (Distilleries) Types
The tools used, methods, and traditions undertaken are different based on the producer.
Based on the tour guide picked, you will meet different artisanal producers. The most common, however, is the Palenque El Conejo artisan. He understands his trade and many have recommended him.
- Commercial Producers
These are industrial-based and they produce mezcal in masses using huge grinders, and juice diffusers. They replace earthen ovens with autoclaves and distill using stainless steel tubs. However, applying commercial modern technology leads to the production of a single distilled spirit.
- Artisanal
This type forms a large part of the certified mezcal produced. They are the small-batch mezcal producers that use traditional methods and tools. They use underground ovens to cook piñas, Distillation is done in clay or copper pots, while grinding is done using a mallet or horse-drawn grinders.
- Ancestral
The ancestral distillery uses a similar procedure to the artisanal one. However, the grinding process is unique as it is powered by humans. They do not use electricity, gas or horsepower. Also, the distilling pots are made of clay or wood and must be aided by a direct flame.
The best and traditionally-enriched mezcal is prepared through ancestral, and artisanal methods. This will allow you to have the best option for the drink that Oaxaca offers.
Artisanal Process of Making Mezcal
The technique employed by the ancestral and artisanal producers is what makes Mezcal a unique drink. The mezcaleros that stick to the traditional method are praised in the community, while those taking shortcuts don’t last too long.
- The Harvesting
The harvesting starts by trimming off the leaves, then digging and carrying the pinas, which are the key ingredients for the process. They are very heavy and they way up to 300 pounds.
- Agave Roasting
The agave is roasted in an earthen pit, layered with river rocks forming a layer between the piñas, and the fire.
The pit must have soil and dirt to ensure it retains the heat that roasts the piñas for five consecutive dates.
- Mezcal fermentation
The piñas are then dug out from the pit and put on racks for at least 15 days to c0ll, and start forming natural yeast.
The piñas are then pulverized and pulps and fibers (bagazo), and juice added to a huge open top vat with water to allow fermentation for another 15 days.
- The Distillation Process
The fermented liquid is added to a clay pot heated using wood. The liquid heats until it becomes steam, then directed into a tube on top for condensation back to liquid.
The process is repeated twice to ensure the Mezcal is concentrated to over 50% alcohol.
- Mezcal Tasting
By the time you arrive in Oaxaca and take a trip or take one of a few Oaxaca mezcal tours with the mezcal distillers, you will have an opportunity to taste mezcal.
The cultural significance of mezcal lies in sipping the drink and not taking shots. This is to ensure people don’t get drunk and can sip the drink the whole day.
Do you need to Book a Oaxaca Mezcal Tour in Advance?
Yes. For proper planning, you should book in advance to allow the organizers to plan a successful tour for you.
The good thing is that everything is included in the tour. They facilitate transportation, lunch, mezcal tasting, distillery tour guide, and snacks are included as well.
You can choose to be picked up at the hotel, and the tour may take up to 10 hours. The tour guides drop you back at the hotel, making the experience awesome. You don’t have to worry about the logistics.
What you should wear for a Oaxaca Mezcal Tour
I recommend long pants to aid in hiking the fields. However, it might get hot, so just carry spare light clothing in case. The area has bathrooms to change, inside the Palenque.
Also carry a hat, sunscreen, bug spray, light shoes for hiking, and cash so you can buy a lot of mezcal!
Hi I’m Shannon!
Hi, I’m Shannon and I’m a Canadian who fell in love with Mexico on my first trip to Puerto Vallarta when I was a young adult.
That started a 30 year love affair with this country which led to marrying my Mexican husband and building a home in Mexico. And now I have even a stronger connection to this gorgeous and complex country.
