Each region/municipality/town where mezcal is made has its own marker in its mezcal — this is of course why we love mezcal. It is a never ending journey of revelation.

I consider myself incredibly lucky for the amount of time I have been able to spend in Mexico exploring mezcal (and more) production across various regions, though it still just the tip of the iceberg. Don’t ask me what part is my favorite, it is impossible to answer because so much of my spent time is defined by specific moments which are near impossible to translate to a list. Ditto with mezcal, which is why it is so great working with a writer like Tess Rose Lampert who is able to refine those moments and put them into pairings, tasting notes, and even lists.

Take Durango and her recent piece which is an exploration of 10 mezcals she is drinking now that are from the state. As she says, “In Durango, we find a unique intersection of natural and financial resources, a growing interest and investment in sustainable agriculture and business, and downright delicious agave varieties and distilling traditions.” It’s a great list and as she also says, by no means exhaustive, because there is so much delicious mezcal, and sotol, coming from that state.

I can’t sip on mezcal from Durango without remembering a specific smell like oregano or campfire, or the feel of the cold air on my nose in a vinata at late night, or the taste of fresh baked cookies and roasted cenizo agave, or conversations over ex-wives and fermenting hooch in prison, or the attempts to get me to chase a mezcal with a scorpion (dried). These moments are all found in the list she has put together and I hope you are able to explore some of these mezcals because they, and others from Durango, deserve attention.

In other news, be sure to check out Felisa Rogers latest piece about books and booze and what to pair when reading them and Tess’ tasting notes for Mil Lumbres four new Durango releases. And if you are in the Chicago area, be sure to check out the spotlight section below on a very very limited release of DeMatachines’ Verde/Cenizo ensamble from Durango..

Finally, on the events front, we’ve added a date for our next What’s in Your Mouth blind tasting in San Diego. And we can hardly believe it but only six weeks to go until Mexico in a Bottle SD so be sure to grab your ticket before we sell out.

Saludos,

Susan and the Mezcalistas Team

MEZCAL NEWS

MEZCAL EVENTS

• September 21st, Copita Mexican Spirits Festival, St. Louis

• September 27th, Piña Agavera, Madrid (Spain)

• September 28th, Copitas, Ostend (Belgium)

• October 4th, What’s in Your Mouth, San Diego

• October 5th, Mexico in a Bottle San Diego

• November 16th, Mexico in a Bottle San Francisco

SPOTLIGHT: De Matachines Durango Batch