Vago

Mezcal Vago is a family/producer owned brand from Candelaria Yegole, Oaxaca focused on small batch mezcal and sustainability. The brand has a great origin story that needs to be read. It is true love story for the ages that involves a remote beach in Oaxaca, a cockfight and a formal asking of the hand from the bride’s father, who happened to be a legendary mezcal maker.

A family venture, Vago was originally produced by Aquilino Garcia, who sadly passed away in 2020. His sons now produce the mezcal at the family palenque in Candelaria Yegole. They also work with mezcalero Tio Rey of Sola de Vega, Emigdio Jarquin Ramirez of Miahuatlan and Joel Barriga Arragón of Tapanala, Oaxaca.

The bottles’ labels are made with agave fiber paper and a color code system identifies each producer who all have a business stake in the brand.

Heaven Hill distillery recently acquired Samson and Surrey, of which Mezcal Vago and Tequila Ocho were part of.  Both Aquilino and Carlos Camarena who makes Tequila Ocho where part of the documentary, Agave: Spirit of a Nation.

Website

Mezcalistas coverage:

Transparency in mezcal: Vago’s Sierra Negra story