Top 32 Oaxacan Alcoholic Beverages

Mezcal Vago is a Mexican artisanal mezcal producer based in the state of Oaxaca, specializing in small-batch mezcals crafted by independent maestro mezcaleros and their families. The brand was founded by Judah Kuper and Dylan Sloan with the goal of showcasing authentic regional mezcal styles while preserving traditional production methods passed down through generations. Rather than operating a single distillery, Mezcal Vago collaborates with several family-owned producers across different regions of Oaxaca, each using their own techniques and local agave varieties. Agave is roasted in underground stone pit ovens, crushed with a traditional tahona stone wheel or by hand, naturally fermented in open wooden vats, and distilled in either copper stills or clay pot stills, depending on local tradition. Every bottle includes detailed information about the agave variety, place of origin, mezcalero, batch number, and distillation date, ensuring complete traceability. The brand places a strong emphasis on preserving cultural heritage, maintaining fair partnerships with producers, and promoting the sustainable cultivation of agave.Expand

Del Maguey is a mezcal brand founded in 1995 with the goal of introducing traditionally crafted, village-produced mezcal from Oaxaca to the international market. The brand works directly with individual villages and family producers (palenqueros) who follow ancestral production methods, including roasting agave in underground pit ovens, natural fermentation, and distillation in copper or clay stills.

Each bottling is identified by its village of origin, emphasizing differences in terroir, agave species, and artisanal technique. The portfolio includes the Vida collection, widely used in cocktails, as well as Village Tradiciones and Village Varietales expressions that highlight specific agave types and micro-regions.

Flavor profiles range from smoky and mineral-driven to floral, fruity, and spice-accented, depending on the raw material and production style. Del Maguey is recognized as one of the key brands in the global expansion of premium mezcal, with a strong focus on authenticity, provenance, and the preservation of traditional distillation practices.Expand

Montelobos is a Mexican artisanal mezcal producer founded in 2010 in the state of Oaxaca with the aim of combining traditional mezcal-making techniques with a modern scientific approach to agave cultivation and quality control. The brand was established by botanist and agave expert Iván Saldaña together with fifth-generation mezcalero Don Abel López Mateos, who developed a production process focused on preserving authentic methods and promoting sustainable resource management. Montelobos uses organically grown agave, whose hearts are roasted in underground stone pits, crushed with a traditional tahona stone wheel, naturally fermented in open wooden vats, and double-distilled in copper stills heated by firewood. This production method preserves the distinctive balance of agave sweetness, smoky notes, and herbal aromas for which Montelobos is known. Today, Montelobos is recognized as a premium mezcal brand on the international market and is part of the Casa Lumbre portfolio, which later became part of the Campari Group.Expand

400 Conejos is a Mexican mezcal brand celebrated for its high quality and deep connection to traditional production methods. The name, inspired by Aztec mythology, symbolizes abundance, with "400 rabbits" representing the gods of intoxication.

Their website showcases the brand's offerings, including various mezcal types crafted from carefully selected agave. It also provides cocktail recipes, serving tips, and insights into mezcal culture and heritage.

By blending tradition with modern appeal, 400 Conejos promotes the richness of Mexican mezcal on a global scale.Expand

Se Busca is an artisanal mezcal brand from San Juan del Río, in the Mexican state of Oaxaca. It is produced by the López Sosa family, who have practiced the craft for more than half a century.

Master mezcal makers Rodolfo and Mary López Sosa continue the family’s production tradition. The core range comprises three expressions made from Espadín agave: Joven, which is unaged, and Reposado and Añejo, which mature in French oak barrels. They share notes of roasted agave and mesquite, while aging develops additional aromas of wood, nuts, and dried fruit.

Se Busca is available internationally, offering mezcals suited to sipping neat and mixing in cocktails.Expand

Rey Campero is a family producer of artisanal mezcal from Candelaria Yegolé, in the Sierra Sur region of Oaxaca, Mexico. Behind the brand is the Sánchez Parada family, whose mezcal-making tradition spans four generations and dates back to 1890.

The family’s legacy began with Clara Manzano de Sánchez and continued through subsequent generations. Today, Vicente and Valentín Sánchez play an important role in preserving this knowledge. The name Rey Campero, meaning “King of the Countryside”, reflects the family’s connection to the land and the agaves growing on the surrounding slopes and in the canyons.

The family also maintains its own nurseries, growing Espadín alongside rarer agaves such as Tepeztate and Jabalí, and allowing some mature plants to flower and produce seeds. The agaves are roasted in wood-fired earthen ovens, then crushed using a stone wheel known as a tahona. Fermentation takes place with naturally occurring yeasts in pine and sabino wood vats, followed by distillation in copper stills. Before bottling, the mezcals rest for at least three months in glass vessels.

The range includes Espadín, Cuishe, Madrecuishe, Mexicano, Tobalá, Tepeztate, Arroqueño, and Jabalí, as well as ensamble expressions combining several agave varieties.Expand

Mezcal Creyente is a Mexican artisanal mezcal brand from Oaxaca, part of the Proximo Spirits portfolio.

The brand’s distinctive approach involves bringing together agaves and mezcals from different areas of Oaxaca, particularly Valles Centrales and Sierra Sur. Its original expression was created by blending two Espadín agave mezcals from the Tlacolula and Yautepec regions.

This approach combines different regional characteristics, ranging from fruity and herbal notes to pronounced smokiness. The brand’s recognizable symbol is an imaginary creature combining features of a jaguar, an eagle, and an antelope, representing different elements of its aromatic profile.

During production, the agave hearts are cooked for three to four days in conical stone ovens using mesquite wood, then crushed and naturally fermented in wooden vats. This is followed by double distillation in copper stills. The range includes Espadín, Tobalá, and Cuishe, as well as Azul Cristalino, showcasing different agave varieties and mezcal styles.Expand

Agave de Cortés is a Mexican artisanal mezcal brand from the state of Oaxaca, rooted in the traditional mezcal-making heritage of Santiago Matatlán, one of the most renowned centers of mezcal production.

The brand is part of a longstanding family tradition, emphasizing the preservation of artisanal techniques, local expertise, and the distinctive characteristics of different agave varieties. Its portfolio includes mezcal made from Espadín agave, available in Joven, Reposado, and Añejo expressions, as well as varieties produced from other agave species.

The family's mezcal-making history dates back to 1840, with the fifth generation of the Cortés family now carrying on the tradition. Production is led by master mezcalero Rolando Cortés, and the brand belongs to Casa Cortés, the company also behind the renowned mezcal brands El Jolgorio and Nuestra Soledad.

The mezcal is crafted using traditional methods, including roasting agave hearts in earthen pits, crushing them with a stone tahona, natural fermentation, and double distillation. Particular attention is given to agave cultivated on family-owned land and preserving the distinctive characteristics of the local terroir.Expand

Catedral Mezcal, also known as Catedral de mi Padre, is an artisanal mezcal brand founded by Jeff and his daughter Sydney Block, with business operations in California and production in Oaxaca, Mexico.

Jeff comes from a family that has farmed for five generations, and his and Sydney’s connection with Oaxaca began years before the brand was established, through time spent in the region and planting agave. Catedral was developed as a collaborative project with independent producers: its partnership model provides for the master mezcal makers to hold equity in the US brand, linked to their contributions to production.

The mezcals are produced in several family distilleries in Santiago Matatlán, San Dionisio Ocotepec, and Zimatlán de Álvarez. The agaves are harvested by hand, roasted in ovens using wood and stone, crushed with a stone wheel known as a tahona, fermented in wooden vats, and double-distilled in copper stills. The wood, water sources, and fermentation vessels vary between producers, contributing to each mezcal’s distinctive character.

The range includes Espadín, Mexicano, Tobalá, and Madre Cuishe, alongside two ensamble expressions: Cuishe + Espadín and Mexicano + Espadín. A distinctive packaging feature is a handcrafted leather sleeve shaped like a cowboy boot, whose design identifies the different expressions and connects the brand’s identity with its founders’ agricultural heritage.Expand