Agave, by hand.

Mexico · Oaxaca · since 2012 Mezcal Vago

Four mezcaleros, four villages, four agave styles. Mezcal Vago was set up in 2012 by maestro Aquilino Garcia with co-founders Judah Kuper and Dylan Sloan, and works as a collective: Aquilino in Candelaria Yegole (now succeeded by his sons Temo and Mateo), Salomon Rey Rodriguez ('Tio Rey') in Sola de Vega, Emigdio Jarquin Ramirez and Joel Barriga. Each maestro works distinct agave varieties under their own production style.

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Mexico · Jalisco · since 1997 Clase Azul

Mazahua artisans in Santa Maria Canchesda hand-paint every Clase Azul decanter. The brand was launched in 1997 by Arturo Lomeli, then a 23-year-old Guadalajara bar owner, who built it around traditional Mexican craftsmanship as much as the tequila itself. Agave comes from Jalisco volcanic soils.

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Mexico · Jalisco · since 1970 La Cofradia

On the slopes of the Tequila Volcano outside the town of Tequila, La Cofradia has run since 1970 as a family-owned distillery. It produces its own brand and also serves as the contract-distillation site for several third-party tequila brands, including Casa Noble and Clase Azul. The signature is hand-painted ceramic decanters; the distillery hosts the on-site Museo de Sitio del Tequila and La Taberna del Cofrade restaurant.

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Mexico · Jalisco · since 1970s (family acquired La Tequileña) Don Fulano

The Fonseca family farmed agave in the Atotonilco Highlands of Jalisco for around 140 years before they ever ran a still themselves, supplying agave to other distillers. In the 1970s they acquired the century-old La Tequileña distillery (NOM 1146) in Tequila town and began producing under their own brand: Don Fulano. The family traces back to a Portuguese immigrant.

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Mexico · Jalisco · since 2000 Rooster Rojo

Silver-filtered proofing water is Rooster Rojo's signature trick, a method the producer claims as a tequila first. The 100% blue Weber agave tequila is distilled at Fabrica de Tequilas Finos in Jalisco. The range covers Blanco, Reposado, Anejo and a Smoked expression.

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Mexico · Mexico Domingo

Domingo Mezcal works across multiple Mexican states rather than a single village. The label collaborates with maestros mezcaleros in Durango, Michoacan and Guerrero to bottle ancestral and artisanal mezcal from local agave varieties.

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Mexico · Oaxaca Amores

Bright, lighter-smoke espadin done for cocktail builds without losing cooked agave. Mezcal Amores works with espadin from Oaxaca, and Verde Momento is the bottle to reach for when you want mezcal that still tastes like agave under the smoke.

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