I took a day trip from Oaxaca City to Santiago Matatlán to learn more about my favorite Agave spirit – Mezcal. Here’s my recap of the Mezcal Distillery Tour with Los Bugambilias Tours.
In my Oaxaca Travel Diary, I mentioned that I’m particular about picking tour guides when I travel. Visiting a mezcal distillery in Oaxaca was one of my dream excursions, so I had to pick the best one. I read through multiple reviews on various booking platforms and deep-dived in the comment threads of travel groups to short list 2-3 tour options, favoring one company in particular. Yes, I take it that seriously.
One day while doing a mezcal tasting at a bar in San Diego, I mentioned to the owner that I wanted visit Oaxaca to visit a mezcal distillery. In what couldn’t be anything but alignment, the bar owner recommended the same tour company I had bookmarked. It was settled!
| Tour Guide: | Las Bugambilias Tours |
| Language: | Tour Guide is fluent in English and Spanish |
| Cost: | $50-100 USD, depending on group size |
| Good to Know: | Bring cash to purchase lunch and a bag sturdy enough to carry your bottles of mezcal |
Los Bugambilias Tours
The website was easy to navigate, and let me know exactly what to expect from start to finish. Since we are still in a pandemic, it was important to me that the tour group was very small and that there was detailed and reassuring safety information, and René, the lead tour operator at Las Bugambilias, is a certified tour guide. He even has his Mexican Secretary of Tourism tourist guide credentials posted directly on the site, so you know he’s official.
Las Bugambilias offers 8 different tour of Oaxaca, including:
- Visit Monte Alban
- Take a daytrip to Mitla
- Visit Hierve el Agua
- Explore Sierra Norte
- Mezcal Distillery Tour in the World Capital of Mezcal
Unfortunately, my 72 hours in Oaxaca only allowed time to complete one tour, so I picked the mezcal distillery tour!
Mezcal Distillery Tour
The full-day tour started at Casa de las Bugambilias B&B where René checked each of us in, took our temperatures, then reviewed the safety measures, including masks on at all times in the van and whenever indoors during the tour. He also reminded us to hydrate with water provided throughout the day.
Our itinerary included visiting an agave farm and three of the best family-operated mezcal distilleries in all of Santiago Matatlán, a town literally lined with mezcalerias, and referred to as the “World Capital Of Mezcal”.
Visiting an Agave Farm
First, our group stopped at an agave farm where the views were breathtaking! Rows of cultivated agave plants peppered with wild agave, mountains piercing soft blue skies and clouds – a dream come true!
We learned the basics of agave cultivation for mezcal production, then got the chance to wander around the farm before heading into the first distillery. I met the farm’s resident donkey who helps the agave farmers with plowing.
BGMW Tip: Wear comfortable walking shoes and don't forget your sun protection.
Mezcal Tastings at Family-Owned Distilleries
Each tour was private and gave us the chance to really get to chat with the mezcaleros responsible for the spirits we tried.
Getting to see the not-so-glamorous and downright laborious parts of mezcal production up close and personal gave me a deeper appreciation for my mezcal collection and the people who make it possible.
I enjoyed all three distilleries Las Bugambilias selected for our tour. The tastings were well curated and by the end of the day, I was very thankful for all the water Rene reminded us to drink.
Each distillery offered their unique mezcals and the number of tastings available made it a great value. I tasted one mezcal that tasted like chocolate! I won’t share the names of each distillery because you should totally book the Mezcal Distillery Tour!
Lunch Break
Between distillery tours, we stopped for a delicious lunch at a local restaurant. Again, the restaurant was closed to the public during our visit (locals eat lunch later in the day) so we had the place to ourselves.
The cost of lunch is not included in the tour - so be sure to have ~$80 MXN (~$4 USD) on hand.
This was a good time to chat with the other participants on the tour. If, by chance, you all are reading this: thank y’all for being cool and not making me feel awkward for being the only solo traveler in the bunch.
Before heading to the next distillery, we also stopped at El Pulquito. During this quick detour, we tasted aguamiel, the sap of the Mexican maguey plant, and pulque, a fermented agave beverage.
“Did You Buy Any Mezcal?”
Is my name Raquel Seymone? Of course I did! A trip to the World Capital of Mezcal isn’t complete unless you bring home some of your favorite bottles! I knew I was buying a lot of bottles to expand my personal collection, so I purchased a second checked bag and mapped out just how many bottles could fit. Even if you’re not as ambitious as me, but still like to get a souvenir or two, here are a few tips:
- Focus on buying the exclusive bottles – I got a bottle of mezcal that’s only available in Japan!
- Bring a sturdy, reusable bag to carry your purchases
- Consider buying 250 mL bottles instead of the large bottles
- Remember you have to travel home – plan accordingly!
Final Thoughts on the Best Mezcal Distillery Tour
Booking my tour with Las Bugambilias was an easy choice, so if tastings are your thing, I recommend booking with them! Their mezcal distillery tour is the perfect way to learn more about Oaxacan mezcal history and culture, its production process explore the history and production process of agave spirits in a fun and safe environment.
René and his team were professional, kind, and made me feel safe the entire time. Let’s be candid, it takes a special kind of person to manage a group of tourists who have been drinking mezcal all day. I’m looking forward to returning to Oaxaca and booking the other Las Bugambilias tours.
