Best Mezcal in Oaxaca, Mexico

The southwestern state of Oaxaca in Mexico is receiving a great deal of attention from travelers for myriad reasons, one of which is its traditional production of the agave spirit called mezcal.

There are many distilleries in the area, most of which are family run and work on a small scale. The best place to see the mezcaleros at work is the town of Matatlan, where you can watch how the spirit is made and, of course, taste some of the fruits of their labor.

You can hop from distillery to distillery, each of which carry their own unlabeled mezcal, or go for a tasting at an organized event. La Mezcaloteca in Oaxaca City brings together different bottles of the spirit from around the state and beyond, giving visitors the chance to really get to know mezcal. Other bars worth their salt include Cuish, Los Amantes and In Situ.

You can take an unlabeled bottle home with you from any of the distilleries, but there are a number of brands building the profile of mezcal around the world. Pierde Almas, Ilegal Mezcal and Alipus are three of the best, with a growing army of fans around the world.

From dusty-floored cantinas to trendy cocktail bars in the United States and Europe, the incredible journey of mezcal continues. While you are now likely to be able to find a bottle near you, the best place to experience mezcal is still its spiritual home, Oaxaca.