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We have now developed a new touring route, taking clients to only palenques owned and operated by women, in the course of a full day of an educational mezcal excursion! Yes, many women are integrally involved in the mezcal business, representing their family interests. But there are still very few palenqueras (female workers and distillers as they're commonly known here in the state of Oaxaca), who do it all, from cutting the agave in the field, to filling the oven, to chopping and then crushing by hand or by beast of burden, to deciding when the ferment is precisely ready to be distilled, to distilling in clay pots or copper alembics, and to finally, arriving at the optimum percentage alcohol (ABV - alcohol by volume), and flavor.
We have carefully curated this tour centering upon a number of women who are at the top of their game, some having learned from their mothers and fathers, and grandparents, while in at least one case, having learned on her own from scratch.
And at the client's option we are also often able to visit with a tlachiquera, a Zapotec native woman who produces pulque. We may even be able to accompany her into the field to harvest the sweet liquid (aguamiel) which seeps into the cavity which has been carved into the center of the majestic Agave americana americana. The aguamiel interacts with an environmental bacteria magically transforming it into pulque. But the emphasis for the day remains on the processes involved in making mezcal, the iconic Mexican spirit.
In addition to meeting and chatting with these talented, hardworking and personable female mezcal producers (at least one of whom is fully bilingual), and of course sampling their agave distillates, in the course of the day we can discuss a couple of export brands owned exclusively by women, such as Mezcal Doña Vega and Las Melodías de la Luna, and sample their products right from the distillers.
We have also partnered with a female lawyer whose expertise is assisting our clients interested in starting their own brands of the agave distillate. Doctor Blanca Salvador has worked with several of our clients in the US, Canada, Mexico, Luxembourg, and even further abroad, who are successfully launching their own brands of mezcal. Dra. Blanca on March 8, 2025, is co-chairing a discussion about women in the mezcal industry, in celebration of International Women's Day: (17) Video | Facebook
And while it's indeed exciting to be able to illustrate women making mezcal, and for our part helping them to advance, in most cases there is also an opportunity to meet school-aged "girls" learning the family trade. Given that we are firm believers in doing our best to ensure that all capable villagers with whom we are acquainted obtain a good education, while these girls have been in and around the industry literally since infancy, we are proud to be able to help the families financially in order to assist with the education of their daughters. One of our goals is to help these young women to achieve their academic potential, so that upon graduation they will have the option of continuing the family's mezcal tradition, or proceeding with a career based on their higher education achievements. While with the current mezcal boom everyone in the industry is able to earn a working class living, what happens if mezcal loses its shine in the eyes of the public? Education provides options and alternatives.
We have carefully curated this tour centering upon a number of women who are at the top of their game, some having learned from their mothers and fathers, and grandparents, while in at least one case, having learned on her own from scratch.
And at the client's option we are also often able to visit with a tlachiquera, a Zapotec native woman who produces pulque. We may even be able to accompany her into the field to harvest the sweet liquid (aguamiel) which seeps into the cavity which has been carved into the center of the majestic Agave americana americana. The aguamiel interacts with an environmental bacteria magically transforming it into pulque. But the emphasis for the day remains on the processes involved in making mezcal, the iconic Mexican spirit.
In addition to meeting and chatting with these talented, hardworking and personable female mezcal producers (at least one of whom is fully bilingual), and of course sampling their agave distillates, in the course of the day we can discuss a couple of export brands owned exclusively by women, such as Mezcal Doña Vega and Las Melodías de la Luna, and sample their products right from the distillers.
We have also partnered with a female lawyer whose expertise is assisting our clients interested in starting their own brands of the agave distillate. Doctor Blanca Salvador has worked with several of our clients in the US, Canada, Mexico, Luxembourg, and even further abroad, who are successfully launching their own brands of mezcal. Dra. Blanca on March 8, 2025, is co-chairing a discussion about women in the mezcal industry, in celebration of International Women's Day: (17) Video | Facebook
And while it's indeed exciting to be able to illustrate women making mezcal, and for our part helping them to advance, in most cases there is also an opportunity to meet school-aged "girls" learning the family trade. Given that we are firm believers in doing our best to ensure that all capable villagers with whom we are acquainted obtain a good education, while these girls have been in and around the industry literally since infancy, we are proud to be able to help the families financially in order to assist with the education of their daughters. One of our goals is to help these young women to achieve their academic potential, so that upon graduation they will have the option of continuing the family's mezcal tradition, or proceeding with a career based on their higher education achievements. While with the current mezcal boom everyone in the industry is able to earn a working class living, what happens if mezcal loses its shine in the eyes of the public? Education provides options and alternatives.
