Oaxaca

It’s easy to see why many people assume that all mezcal is made in Oaxaca. Oaxaca has been a key mezcal zone for hundreds of years, but producition really ramped up in the 1930s when farmers began planting espadín agave on a large scale. Oaxaca became synonymous with mezcal due to the efforts of Gusano Rojo and other large Oaxaca mezcal brands that set out to conquer the global market, beginning in the 1940s. Oaxaca is now Mexico’s leading producer, with more than 85% of certified mezcal coming from the state. Although many large mezcal brands operate out of the state, small Oaxacan producers still continue to produce some of the world’s best mezcal. Scroll down for our guides to Oaxaca mezcal.