Experience with Mezcal?
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Experience with Mezcal?
Anyone have any experience visiting a Mezcal distillery in Oaxaca? Or and opinions on the better brands from Oaxaca?
CheenaGringo- Share Holder
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Re: Experience with Mezcal?
There is some great mezcal from Teul, Zacatecas (2 hours or so north of Guad), I have a source there for mezcal but without the worm.
Intercasa- Share Holder
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Re: Experience with Mezcal?
There was a good article on Oaxacan Mezcal in the NYTimes a few months ago.
viajero- Share Holder
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Re: Experience with Mezcal?
Thanks Chris! I will go in search of.
CheenaGringo- Share Holder
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Re: Experience with Mezcal?
The worm issue - from most of what I have read, the worm (really a larva) was a marketing gimmick first introduced back in the 40's.
From Wikipedia: "The worm
Certain mezcals, usually from the state of Oaxaca, are sold con gusano, a practice that began as a marketing gimmick in the 1940s. The worm is actually the larval form of the moth Hypopta agavis that lives on the agave plant.
Caballeros Inc. a mezcal producer from Oaxaca markets a mezcal with a scorpion exoskeleton in the bottle instead of the traditional worm (Scorpion Mezcal®). Douglas French, producer of this brand, states the reason for using scorpions as "worms are for wimps". "
[img][/img]
The above Scorpion Mezcal® Añejo 7 Year sells for $250USD and up NOB.
From Wikipedia: "The worm
Certain mezcals, usually from the state of Oaxaca, are sold con gusano, a practice that began as a marketing gimmick in the 1940s. The worm is actually the larval form of the moth Hypopta agavis that lives on the agave plant.
Caballeros Inc. a mezcal producer from Oaxaca markets a mezcal with a scorpion exoskeleton in the bottle instead of the traditional worm (Scorpion Mezcal®). Douglas French, producer of this brand, states the reason for using scorpions as "worms are for wimps". "
[img][/img]
The above Scorpion Mezcal® Añejo 7 Year sells for $250USD and up NOB.
CheenaGringo- Share Holder
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Re: Experience with Mezcal?
If you're staying in downtown Oaxaca city, at least a couple of the distilleries have brand stores/tasting rooms right in the tourist center. You'll see them. I suspect they are probably among the bigger operations if they have that kind of marketing clout/shrewdness, so no idea if they are among the better mezcals or not. Certainly there must be a knowledgeable independent tour guide down there. Maybe check Trip Advisor?
Rosa Venus- Share Holder
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Re: Experience with Mezcal?
Rosa Venus:
Thank you for your suggestions/comments! Yes, we are planning to stay in "centro" Oaxaca at: http://hotelcasantica.com/en/
While this is our very first visit to Oaxaca, we have a basic aversion to the tour guides typically available where Gringos frequent. We have found through the years that we learn more by making our own mistakes and then being able to laugh at them! Prior to each trip, I conduct as much research as I can stand and then we wing it from there. Mezcal is a new subject for us and we figure that "our collection" deserves a bottle or two of fine Mezcal added to it.
Thank you for your suggestions/comments! Yes, we are planning to stay in "centro" Oaxaca at: http://hotelcasantica.com/en/
While this is our very first visit to Oaxaca, we have a basic aversion to the tour guides typically available where Gringos frequent. We have found through the years that we learn more by making our own mistakes and then being able to laugh at them! Prior to each trip, I conduct as much research as I can stand and then we wing it from there. Mezcal is a new subject for us and we figure that "our collection" deserves a bottle or two of fine Mezcal added to it.
CheenaGringo- Share Holder
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Re: Experience with Mezcal?
The distilleries are around Tlacolula just past Teotitlan. The Zapotecs make and consume loads of it. Pancho can give you his recommendation. I do not think I have been to one celebration down there where Mescal was not offered you will find it all over the place from the distilleries to the center of town.
brigitte- Share Holder
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Re: Experience with Mezcal?
They also make a drink with orange juice, lime sometimesgrenadine and Mescal and at wedding served it in large jars with salt and chili on the edge. One is enough for you to fall asleep under the table. I think it is called Donaji, I am sure the bar version is smaller and less potent than the wedding versions...those things are dangerous.
I will post a picture of it if I still have the picture.
I will post a picture of it if I still have the picture.
brigitte- Share Holder
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