Mezcal Distillery Tours by Mezcal Educational Excursions of OaxacaTM Our Oaxaca mezcal tours of quaint, traditional distilleries (palenques), are conducted by one of two internationally recognized Oaxacan spirits authorities, Randall Stockton and Alvin Starkman. Both are seasonaed professionals working under the auspices of the Mexican government. They are firm believers in ethical tourism! Visit a diversity of small, family owned and operated distilleries which use traditional copper pot "alambiques" and more rudimentary clay pot stills. Witness virtually all of the steps in production such as baking the agave, crushing, fermenting and distilling. Sample throughout the day from a range of mezcals hand-crafted from a variety of species of agave: madrecuixe, tobala, espadin, tepeztate, tobasiche, pechuga, anejos (aged) and more. As we traverse the hinterland of Oaxaca's central valleys and further beyond, meet the indigenous Zapotec peoples who have been distilling using family traditions passed down through the generations - at their distilleries, in their homes, and sometimes even in the fields. Learn about the impact of terroir on nuance subtleties, and the other reasons no two batches are the same; and why we consider mezcal production to be one of the most sustainable industries in Mexico. And at your option, buy high quality mezcal not available outside Oaxaca, directly from the producers at a fraction of the prices charged for similar quality in the US, Canada, further abroad, and even in Mexico. Alvin Starkman is the author of Mezcal in the Global Spirits Market: Unrivalled Complexity, Innumerable Nuances, and co-author of the only comprehensive, full-color bilingual Mezcal Tasting Wheel. For more than 15 years Randall Stockton was in the American bar industry and an ardent promoter of mezcal. Both are permanent residents of Oaxaca. For more information, additional services provided, complete biographies and testimonials, email and visit our website: http://www.mezcaleducationaltours.com mezcaleducationaltours@hotmail.com Tell us that you found us through Mexonline.com.