Oaxaca: Artisanal Mezcal & Mexican Chocolate Tasting

4.99

(136 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

The first thing that hit me was the smell—sort of earthy, smoky, almost like someone had just blown out a candle but sweeter. We were in this cozy little tasting room in Oaxaca, sunlight slipping through the wooden shutters. Our guide, Ana, handed me a tiny clay cup with a mezcal cocktail (she said the recipe changes every season—this one had something citrusy I couldn’t quite place). I took a sip and felt that warmth travel all the way down. There was music somewhere outside, muffled by the thick walls.

We tried five different artisanal mezcals during the tasting—each poured into these beautiful little copitas. Ana explained where each agave came from (Espadín, Silvestre… I forgot one because I got distracted by the plate of grasshoppers she slid over with a grin). She told us about how mezcal is made—slow-roasted agave hearts, stone mills, all that effort for just a few bottles. The stories made it taste different somehow. Between sips, we nibbled on spicy peanuts and these dark chocolate squares that melted so slowly I almost laughed at myself for rushing the first bite.

I tried to pronounce “tobalá” properly—Ana laughed and said even locals mess it up sometimes. The chocolates weren’t just sweet; some were fruity or even a little bitter. One had this hint of chili that caught me off guard but in a good way. There was a moment when everyone went quiet after tasting one of the pairings—I think we were all surprised how well mezcal and chocolate worked together. You know when you realize you’ve been missing out on something simple? That feeling.