Updated September 23, 2024
Growing interest in mezcal has created a tourist boom. Oaxacan mezcal is the main attraction, but other mezcal zones are now attracting a trickle of tourists. However, the mezcal tourism infrastructure isn’t fully built-out, so tours and routes aren’t always obvious. You’ll see plenty of roadside distilleries (some of dubious quality), but there isn’t a clear Silverado Trail. Which leaves many people wondering: How do I tour mezcal country?
To understand mezcal, you need to explore how firmly rooted it is in Mexican myth and culture. It begins with an origin story complete with star-crossed lovers, demons, battles, and finally death and grief so profound it produced a plant imbued with special properties to create a comforting elixir. That plant, of course, was the agave, and the drink pulque, the comforting agave elixir that predates mezcal. But we digress…Back to the subject of mezcal tourism.
Want to watch a maestro mezcalero judge ABV by perlas? Or sample puntas and pechuga in a palenque? We’ve created this resource page to help you plan a tour mezcal country and connect with local guides who can create incredible experiences that will give you a depper understanding of where mezcal comes from, how mezcal is made, and how the spirit intersects with Mexican art, food, and communities. You’ll sample some of the world’s best mezcal as you take a deep dive into Mexican culture and history.
If you want to brush up on mezcal facts before your trip, check out Mezcal 101. Or if you’re curious about regional mezcals that go by different names, check out What is Raicilla? or What is Bacanora?
All Mezcal Tour Destinations
Begin planning your mezcal adventures, from basic travel information to resources that will connect you with vetted local guides.
Updated August 9, 2024
Tour Oaxaca
Of all the mezcal tourism regions, Oaxaca is by far the most popular. Infrastructure is relatively developed and the city has a major airport. Oaxaca tourism has become increasingly mezcal-oriented. You can explore mezcal food pairings at fine restaurants, and there seems to be a mezcaleria on every corner. It’s also a good travel destination if your companions aren’t as obsessed with mezcal as you are–mezcal is just one element of the state’s incredibly rich culture and culinaria. Read on for in-depth information on the best Oaxaca mezcal guides and tours.
Tour Puebla
A more recent region to be added to the Denominacion de Origen (DOM), Puebla mezcal is on the rise. With the combination of deep, rich history, fertile farmlands, well-developed infrastructure, and ample resources, Puebla is quickly becoming a key producer of mezcal and mezcal tourism is a growing industry. If you’re interested in learning more about Puebla mezcal, the eponymous city is beautiful and makes a great homebase for your visit. Read on for information on the state, including the best Puebla mezcal guides and tours.
Tour Jalisco
Guadalajara isn’t traditionally on the mezcal tourism trail but (as many of you are fond of pointing out) tequila is a type of mezcal. The city is an hour from the town of Tequila, and also an entry point for raicilla tourism, offering the chance to explore one of the most underappreciated and amazing mezcals out there. Guadalajara is an ideal destination if you’re interested in learning about tequila and raicilla de la sierra, or mountain raicilla. Meanwhile, Puerto Vallarta is the starting point for visiting coastal raicilla country. Read on to learn about the best tequila and raicilla guides and tours.
Tour San Luis Potosi
San Luis Potosi is located in central-eastern Mexico. The eponymous colonial capital is a gorgeous city and a good starting point for mezcal tours. Although the state is not the most obvious choice for a mezcal tour, the spirit has been made in the region since the Spanish arrived. These days, we’re seeing more San Luis Potosi mezcal make its way to the market, and mezcal tourism is becoming a thing.
Tour Durango
Durango, a northern state located about 600 miles due south of El Paso, Texas, is one of Mexico’s largest but least populated states. The terrain is diverse, ranging from towering paddle cactus and jagged cliffs (which provided the desert backdrop for 1960s Hollywood westerns) to the Sierra Madre Occidental mountain range, lush with pine and oak forests. It’s known for its cattle ranches, and, increasingly, mezcal. Read on to learn more.
Tour Michoacán
Have you always wanted to go on an insider’s trip to mezcal country? Ever wanted to hang out with mezcaleros while seeing the process–from agave field to bottle? Michoacan mezcal tourism is definitely for the serious aficianado, but offers an opportunity to visit one of Mexico’s most beautiful states while learning about and sampling some of the best mezcal. Read on to learn more about Michoacan mezcal.
Recent Tasting Notes
Learn more about flavors, aromas and background production for the best mezcals, raicillas, bacanoras, and sotols on the market today.
