Founded in 2010 by Silvia Philion and Marco Ochoa in 2010, Mezcalosfera is a part library (biblioteca) and part bar (dedicated exclusively to distilled agave spirits from across Mexico), Mezcaloteca has become an institution and a driving force in the promotion and education of distilled agave. As they put it “Mezcaloteca is a project devoted to the preservation and promotion of traditional mezcal, its diversity and biocultural processes.” Silvia’s family comes from a line of mezcal producers, and her knowledge and passion for mezcal and education are infectious. As Silvia says , “Mezcal is not just a drink, it’s the culture of a whole country.” One of mezcal’s most prominent evangelists, Silvia is a champion of mezcal made in the traditional way which is in need of preservation as big money from international spirits conglomerates moves into mezcal.

This Mezcalosfera Espadin from José Cortés was produced in Santiago Matatlan, Oaxaca. The agaves were cooked in a pit oven, milled by tahona, fermented with wild yeasts, and double distilled in a copper still.