In Zacatecas, mezcal is best understood far from cocktail bars and closer to the land. The journey begins among agave fields that shift in color under the highland sun and continues in family-run distilleries where time is still measured by stone ovens, open-air fermentation, and the slow rhythm of artisanal distillation.

While Oaxaca often dominates the conversation around mezcal, Zacatecas has been part of the Denomination of Origin since 1994 and has built an identity of its own through salmiana, cenizo, and blue agaves. Today, the state is home to around 60 varieties of mezcal, shaped by both the diversity of agaves and techniques passed down through generations.

In towns such as Teúl de González Ortega, Pinos, and Jalpa, mezcal is more than a spirit; it is a way of telling local history. In Teúl, a Pueblo Mágico surrounded by hills and orchards, distilleries open their doors to visitors eager to witness a process that begins with harvesting the agave and ends in intimate tastings where each sip reveals mineral, herbal, and smoky notes tied directly to the landscape.

It is here that Don Aurelio Lamas produces a mezcal that has earned international recognition while maintaining traditional production methods.

Further southeast, in Pinos, former haciendas and colonial trade routes coexist with one of the state’s deepest mezcal traditions. At Hacienda La Pendencia, visitors can follow every stage of the artisanal process: agave hearts roasted underground, the grinding process, and copper stills that transform the plant into a clear and complex spirit. The region is also home to master mezcalero Antonio Briones, whose labels have received awards in specialized tasting competitions.

The route continues south to Jalpa, in the Caxcana region, where production reaches a larger scale without losing its connection to craftsmanship. Real de Jalpa, one of Mexico’s largest mezcal houses, produces both joven and añejo expressions that have carried the name of Zacatecas beyond the country’s borders.

The state’s relationship with mezcal is also expressed through collective celebration. Zacatecas holds a Guinness World Record for the world’s largest mezcal tasting, organized with the participation of local mezcal producers and thousands of attendees gathered around a shared tradition.

Traveling through Zacatecas’ mezcal routes reveals that every bottle begins long before it reaches the table. It starts in the semi-desert landscape, in agaves that take years to mature, and in the families who have turned this craft into memory. In Zacatecas, mezcal remains an ongoing conversation between the land and the people who work it.

zacatecastravel.com