Price certainly has to be a factor when considering which Mezcals you stock in your well. And flavor, of course. But what about the environmental impact? Here are six lower-priced Mezcals (and a Bacanora and a Sotol) that you can use for high-volume cocktails that won’t break the bank and don’t threaten the bio-diversity of Oaxaca. It’s a Punch-and-Judy episode of Agave Road Trip!

Agave Road Trip is a critically acclaimed, award-winning podcast that helps gringx bartenders better understand agave, agave spirits, and rural Mexico. This episode is hosted by Lou Bank with special co-host Linda Sullivan of seynasecreto with insightful quotes from Éva Pelczer, the Global Education Manager of Del Maguey, and our dear friend Michael IYKYK, intergalactic force for good. (And that’s my dog Jacob drinking water and playing under his quote.) (And swear words have been deleted.) (From Michael. Not from Jacob.)

Episode Notes

This episode is in response to Emma Janzen’s article “The Best Mezcals for Mixing, According to Bartenders,” published August 23, 2023, in Punch. Normally I’d just email you directly, Emma, but I thought this was a funnier way to do this. And more impactful. And funnier.

Our recommendations (with approximate retail price, agave, and state) are

-       Mezcal Derrumbes San Luis Potosi ($45, Salmiana, SLP)

-       Lucy Pistolas Mezcal Artesanal ($35, Salmiana, Guanajuato)

-       Mezcal Burrito Fiestero Joven ($40, Cenizo, Durango)

-       La Luna Mezcal Cupreata ($40, Cupreata, Michoacan)

-       Mezcal Hacienda de Banuelos Joven Tequilana ($35, Tequilana, Zacatecas)

-       Aguamiel Bacanora Blanco ($40, Pacifica, Sonora)

-       Del Maguey Vida Puebla ($33, Espadin, Puebla)

-       Senor Sotol ($38, Dasylirions Cedrosanum, Texanum, and Wheeleri; Durango)