How, and where, did distillation of agave spirits like mezcal, tequila, tuxca, raicilla, and bacanora first begin in Mexico? Several theories have been proposed by researchers, historians, and archaeologists. Some suggest indigenous populations had been distilling alcohol from agave plants before European contact. Others claim agave spirit distillation began during the early 17th century, after [...]
What does Erstwhile mean? What is the story behind Erstwhile Mezcal’s logo? We get asked these questions a lot from folks who are getting to know us for the first time. I figured it is high time that I write a blog post addressing these excellent questions. WHAT IS THE STORY BEHIND [...]
Give the storytellers and craft spirit lovers in your life a gift that will light up their imaginations this holiday season. Erstwhile Ancestral Mezcal Trio is open for pre-orders only at SpiritHub.com. Pre-order today in time for the holidays, while supplies last. Taste three heritage mezcals - distilled in clay pots - from two legendary producers: Madre [...]
Erstwhile Mezcal is thrilled to release the world’s first Bacon Pechuga, an all-women collaboration between Erstwhile founder Yuan Ji, Master Distiller Hortensia Hernández Martínez, and her daughters - Lidia and Nallely - in Santiago Matatlán, Oaxaca. This remarkable 300-liter batch of Bacon Pechuga Mezcal is one of seven exciting new limited-edition releases from Erstwhile Mezcal [...]
Master Mezcalero Juan Abel Quiroz Agustín prefers to go by “Abel”. Born and raised in Santa María Sola where he still resides, Abel saved for years before achieving the dream of building his own palenque next to his house. Santa María Sola is a municipality in the district of Sola de Vega, in the [...]
Juan Hernández Méndez - our friend; Erstwhile Mezcal's partner producer; loving husband and father of four; skilled mezcal artisan from Santiago Matatlán, Oaxaca - passed away on Sunday evening, September 27, 2020. We are drinking Juan's mezcal tonight to remember him. We hope you are too. Where to begin? Juan was kind. Juan was welcoming. [...]
Rey Arellanes Angeles, a skilled producer of ancestral mezcal, runs a tight ship in Santa Catarina Minas, Oaxaca. While Erstwhile Mezcal’s current lineup does not feature any mezcal made by Rey, my co-founder Kevin and I are his fans in our personal capacity as mezcal enthusiasts. We have many of Rey’s distillations in our personal [...]
What is the proper way to drink mezcal? This is by far one of the most common questions we receive when hosting tastings and mezcal education events. While there are no hard and fast rules – we at Erstwhile Mezcal believe you should enjoy your mezcal in any way that makes you happy – we [...]
Hello, fellow mezcal lovers! We have some really exciting news to share with you. You can now order Erstwhile Mezcal online directly from our website, and have your favorite mezcals shipped directly to your front door or to family / friends all over the country! To fully understand why this is such a big deal for us, consider Erstwhile [...]
It is our immense pleasure to spotlight and team up with our friends at La Lonchería: New York’s first Mexican lonchería and our beloved neighborhood mezcaleria in the heart of Bushwick, Brooklyn. Imagine a classic Mexican cantina meets modern luncheonette / diner. Serving casual but sublimely delicious food. Understated but undeniably cool in every aesthetic, [...]
Epifania, Silverio and their sons. Photo provided by the Consejo Regulador del Mezcal (CRM). Mezcal made from Espadín, a cultivated (versus wild) varietal of the agave plant, is by far the most common varietal you are likely to find in your local liquor store, cocktail bars or restaurants. Espadín is the most [...]
Hortensia Hernández Martínez and Juan Hernández Méndez, circa March 2018, in front of the fermentation vats at their family palenque in Santiago Matatlán, Oaxaca. At Erstwhile Mezcal, we work with each and every one of our partner mezcaleros with care and passion, committing our brand and reputation only after countless tastings [...]
