History
Mezcal is the smoke-roasted agave spirit of Oaxaca, with pre-Hispanic origins refined under Spanish colonial-era distillation. Santiago Matatlan east of Oaxaca is the World Capital of Mezcal, with more than 200 registered palenques. The 2026 Feria Internacional del Mezcal runs July 17-28 and the Mezcaloteca on Reforma is the appointment-only library tasting room with 100-plus family-producer mezcals, opened in 2010.
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Make it at home
Ingredients
- 50ml mezcal joven (Espadin recommended for cocktails)
- 25ml fresh lime juice
- 20ml agave syrup
- Sal de gusano (worm salt) for the rim
- Orange wheel
Method
- Rim half a coupe glass with sal de gusano.
- Shake the mezcal, lime juice and agave syrup with ice 12 seconds.
- Strain into the coupe.
- Garnish with an orange wheel.
Tip from the editors. For a true mezcal-only tasting, pour 15ml neat at room temperature and sip slowly; ice and citrus mask the smoke.
Where to eat mezcal
Mezcal in Oaxaca
Mezcaloteca ★ 4.7
Mezcaloteca on Reforma has poured by appointment since 2010: small-batch mezcals from family producers, agave cooked in earthen ovens, no chemicals used.
DrinkFive-mezcal educational flight
FoodWater and dry snacks
In Situ Mezcaleria ★ 4.5
In Situ on Vicente Guerrero is Ulises Torrentera's mezcaleria with 180-plus mezcals and the author often behind the bar pouring on his own flights all night.
DrinkUlises Torrentera-curated flight
FoodBar snacks
Mezcalogia ★ 4.3
Mezcalogia on Garcia Vigil stays open Tuesday to Saturday until 00:30, with the Casa Cortes family's El Jolgorio mezcaleria and the kitchen on Oaxacan plates.
TryMezcal flights and plates
Sabina Sabe ★ 4.4
Sabina Sabe on Cinco de Mayo 209 runs until midnight most nights as a 50-Best-Discovery cocktail bar named for Maria Sabina, with multiple drinking rooms.
TryMezcal cocktails
Selva Oaxaca Cocktail Bar ★ 4.5
Selva on Macedonio Alcala is on the 50 Best Discovery list, a creative cocktail bar with Oaxacan-ingredient drinks and mezcals from small distilleries.
DrinkSelva cocktail with mezcal, hoja santa and Oaxacan cheese
FoodBar snacks
Cuish Mezcaleria ★ 4.4
Cuish on Diaz Ordaz runs Tuesday to Saturday 17:00-03:00 with wild-agave mezcals downstairs and live music and art shows in the upstairs hall after dark.
TryWild-agave mezcals and snacks
La Casa del Mezcal ★ 4.2
La Casa del Mezcal on Flores Magon is the 1935 cantina behind Mercado Benito Juarez, with a long mezcal counter and old-cantina feel in central Centro.
DrinkMezcal de pechuga
FoodCantina bar snacks
More cities are in research. Want mezcal covered somewhere specific? Tell us where you want to eat.