Experience Agave - Oaxaca
Experience Agave - Oaxaca
5
10:00 AM - 5:00 AM
Monday
10:00 AM - 5:00 AM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 AM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 AM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 5:00 AM
Friday
10:00 AM - 5:00 AM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 5:00 AM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 5:00 AM
Full view
About
Private, in-depth day tours of artesanal and traditional mezcal distilleries (palenques). Led by a bilingual guide with a deep knowledge of mezcal and insider connections. Special requests most welcome.
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Experience Agave - Oaxaca
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
5.0
41 reviews
Excellent
38
Very good
1
Average
0
Poor
0
Terrible
2
Chris M
2 contributions
Mar 2024 • Couples
A great day with our guide Leon. We visited three mezcal palenques which all had a different character and excellent products. We learnt so much about the process, industry, and local community. Our lunch was also a highlight.
Written March 14, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jay_baer_bloomington
Bloomington, IN8 contributions
Mar 2020 • Friends
Absolutely incredible. Extraordinary guides (Kami is the bomb), unbelievable food, and up-close access to some of the worlds greatest mezcal makers.
Whole trip is incredibly well-organized, educational, and fun.
Highly recommended if you love agave spirits, and are okay going off the beaten path a bit.
This is my second trip with Experience Agave and i recommend them to everyone. I’ll be back again!
Whole trip is incredibly well-organized, educational, and fun.
Highly recommended if you love agave spirits, and are okay going off the beaten path a bit.
This is my second trip with Experience Agave and i recommend them to everyone. I’ll be back again!
Written March 18, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
OrangeOrb
Redlands, CA32 contributions
Nov 2019
I'm an independent traveller. I speak Spanish. I can find my own way and have great experiences. BUT I had my eyes opened on this four-day guided stimulation called the "Pechuga Tour". The objective was to go get some hands-on experience at distilling mezcal. Sure enough, we did get crazy hands on with making Mezcal - piling in the firewood, jumping in the fire pit to pull out the cooked heads of agave, taking sip samples of the mezcal as it dribbled out of the still. So mission accomplished, but I have to say it was much more than that. This odd mix of tour participants - urbanites, mostly thirties/some forties, some international - didn't seem like it was going to click when we first met - but we ended up pulling together over the four days, especially when mixed with the charismatic glue of our leader, Clayton Czchzczk. We just really had a fun time getting to know each other. The food, all cooked outside on wood, was excellent. The family hosting us was excellent. The cliffside waterfall pool bathing was excellent. The buzzed sing-along of "Soy el Rey" with the neighborhood band was excellent! Tours can be awful, but this Experience Agave tour proved to me that, wow, with the right leadership and a company that attracts these kinds of participants - that was an experience that I could never achieve on my own. Clayton and crew, you have established the benchmark for what makes great tour experiences absolutely great. You have truly achieved something with this. WELL DONE!!
Written March 11, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear OrangeOrb,
Thanks so very much for your fantastic review! Also, LOL re: Clayton's last name. It's indeed a doozy!
Saludos!
Written March 17, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Katie K
3 contributions
Sep 2024 • Friends
We were very disappointed in this tour. We booked a private tour so it could be customized, and we described in detail ahead of time what we did and didn’t want. Instead of following our requests (small, local distilleries), our guide took us to a large commercial distillery where he had clearly gotten a commission. We told him we were ready to do the tastings but he spent 2 hours going over every detail of the production, including a lot of inaccurate information (my friend knows distilling and said what we were told was completely wrong). Overall, if you just need a driver to take you to a couple commercial places, you’ll get that, but this tour is way overpriced considering it doesn’t offer much else.
Written September 16, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Katie,
First, I am sincerely sorry that you didn't enjoy your tour. We pride ourselves on providing an excellent guest experience, and I take it very seriously when we fall short, for whatever reason. I have spent the past week looking into every detail of your tour, and I appreciate this opportunity to offer some context and a respectful reply.
Experience Agave guides do not accept commissions, ever. This allows us to use judicious discretion in selecting palenques of quality and that, to the extent possible, are engaged in active mezcal production. (To that end, since your tour was on a federal holiday and most small producers were taking the day off, we chose one medium-sized palenque as one of your visits so that you would see active mezcal production.)
Additionally, our guides earn a higher-than-average salary, reflecting their years of expertise and professionalism. I get that you feel the tour was overpriced. But I am proud that we keep our salaries (and, therefore, prices) in line with rising costs of living and inflation in Oaxaca. Speaking of pricing, because the specific guide you requested was unavailable, I gave your group a 20% discount, so you got a private tour for the price of a public tour.
When you contacted us, the only detail about what you were hoping to experience was the following: " We would like to try unique/unusual mezcals, and we also enjoy sotol." In hindsight, we should have investigated and responded to that comment before your tour. Sotol is produced in the northern Mexican states of Chihuahua, Cohuila, and Durango. I can't know what you consider "unusual" mezcal, but your group had the opportunity to taste literally scores of mezcals made from different magueys and production techniques during your tour. Nevertheless, I take responsibility for not asking follow-up questions about your group’s goals for the day.
Which brings me to your comments about the tour content. Your expert, Oaxacan guide is a pioneer in this industry and has worked in it professionally for over 15 years. I appreciate that your "friend knows distilling," but your claim that your guide provided "inaccurate information" is incorrect and, frankly, offensive. The centuries-old distilling tradition in Oaxaca is distinct and the biochemistry of the maguey itself means that key aspects of distillation function differently than in the production of any other spirit category in the world. The historical, cultural, and technical aspects that make Oaxacan mezcal unique in the world of distilling are things your guide has studied for years and make up the core of our tours.
You mentioned that your guide's in-depth explanation of the mezcal-making process was lengthier than you wanted and that you would have preferred to get right to the tasting component. Here, too, I take responsibility for not recognizing the possible lack of fit between your group’s interests and Experience Agave’s tour philosophy. Our tours are explicitly advertised as in-depth and educational, and I am happy to say that Experience Agave tours continue to please guests from all over the world who come for an in-depth educational experience with an expert local guide. I sincerely hope the rest of your time in Oaxaca provided more of what you were looking for. Thanks for taking the time to bring these matters to my attention.
Sincerely,
Clayton Szczech
Owner, Experience Agave
Written October 13, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Joshtrix
England9 contributions
Oct 2019
I went on one of my favourite tours I've been on, doing a four day experience with Experience Agave, staying on a palenque and being part of the process of making a pechuga mezcal.
This tour went above and beyond my expectations. The experience travelling through and staying in the Sierra Norte mountains, being able to get our hands dirty in the stages of mezcal production was an incredibly unique experience.
The Experience Agave team were engaged throughout, and it was obvious they loved mezcal and genuinely cared for the producer they brought us to, which made the experience all the more special.
The mixture of (a lot of!) mezcal, great company, amazing home-cooked food in an incredible setting will stay with me for a long, long time.
This tour went above and beyond my expectations. The experience travelling through and staying in the Sierra Norte mountains, being able to get our hands dirty in the stages of mezcal production was an incredibly unique experience.
The Experience Agave team were engaged throughout, and it was obvious they loved mezcal and genuinely cared for the producer they brought us to, which made the experience all the more special.
The mixture of (a lot of!) mezcal, great company, amazing home-cooked food in an incredible setting will stay with me for a long, long time.
Written March 11, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks so much, Joshtrix! We hope to have you back in Oaxaca someday! Saludos.
Written March 11, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Rebelorac
Petaluma, CA20 contributions
Dec 2018 • Couples
The all day tour back into the hills and valleys of Oaxaca was fantastic. Dari, our driver and guide, shared with us so much of his knowledge about the plants, herbs, mezcal making, and the people. We were fascinated to see two artisan palenques where mezcal was distilled and to meet the owners, learning about the process and their vision. Dari is a terrific bilingual and personable guide.
Written January 13, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for showing your support for Experience Agave and for joining us on tour in Oaxaca! We're happy you were able to connect with the mezcaleros and learn more about the spirit and the region. You're more than welcome back on your next visit!
Written November 23, 2019
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
nelly_182
Montreal, Canada41 contributions
May 2018
My husband and I are both mezcal enthusiasts and we were looking for an authentic, non-touristic tour of traditional palenques in Oaxaca; we found our perfect match with Experience Mezcal! Dari, our tour guide, took us off the beaten path to rustic family owned venues and explained in great length and detail the wild agave cultivation and production process behind mezcal. A local from Oaxaca, Dari is warm, engaging and personable; it was great spending time with him and learning firsthand about local traditions and culture. He was kind enough to share some of his favourite spots in the city - all of which were awesome! A must do if you are visiting Oaxaca, we are already planning our next trip and loom forward to going again on the tour.
Written May 30, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks so much for your enthusiastic review!
Written March 17, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Passportrdy
San Francisco, CA7 contributions
Mar 2018 • Friends
Dary took 4 of us through the mezcal fields to several distilleries and an amazing lunch at a roadside restaurant. He exceeded any expectations that we may have had. He took us to 3 mezcal distilleries, 2 of which we never would have been able to find on our own. We were the only people at each one and were able to speak with the people who produced the mezcal. We were able to buy mezcal siphoned right from their tubs. Dary was warm, professional, knowledgeable, and had many recommendations for the remainder of our time in Oaxaca. I can not recommend this tour enough. It was well worth every penny.
Written March 26, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We're so please to hear that you enjoyed the tour so thoroughly! Enjoy the rest of your time in Oaxaca and of course that mezcal you're taking home. Thank you for coming on tour!
Written March 28, 2018
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
p g
1 contribution
May 2024 • Family
Our tour began with meeting our guide León in Oaxaca. Less than 5 minutes into our drive, we could tell that we were going to have the time of our lives learning about the process of producing mezcal. We drove east, outside of Oaxaca Centro to Santiago Matatlán. The transition from city driving to a vast countryside lined with beautiful mountains and agave fields was breathtaking. The one hour drive was filled with León giving us a passionate and educational lesson in the agave spirit, mezcal. León was interested in how we were exposed to mezcal and encouraged us to ask questions. It was then, I learned that he was involved with some of my favorite producers early on in their start up.
Our first stop was at palenque Mal de Amor. León gave us a personal tour, explaining the different types of agave, the process (harvesting, cooking/roasting, crushing, fermentation and distillation). I was surprised to learn that one of my favorite mezcals was produced. I was even given the opportunity to chop an agave pina into pieces with an axe. We ended this part of our tour with a complex tasting of mezcal offered by the fine staff of Mal de Amor.
We then drove about 15 minutes to Gracias a Dios Mezcal, a smaller sustainable producer of fine spirits. Here, we toured the handmade process ending with a delicious tasting of mezcal and gin presented by David. Our last stop was a five minute drive to 5 Estrellas, a small family owned artisanal palenque - more incredibly delicious mescal!
Our day ended with lunch at Azul Adobe, a small family owned restaurant, and quite possibly the best meal I had on Oaxaca!
Thank you León for a wonderful day!
Pedro y Anna
Our first stop was at palenque Mal de Amor. León gave us a personal tour, explaining the different types of agave, the process (harvesting, cooking/roasting, crushing, fermentation and distillation). I was surprised to learn that one of my favorite mezcals was produced. I was even given the opportunity to chop an agave pina into pieces with an axe. We ended this part of our tour with a complex tasting of mezcal offered by the fine staff of Mal de Amor.
We then drove about 15 minutes to Gracias a Dios Mezcal, a smaller sustainable producer of fine spirits. Here, we toured the handmade process ending with a delicious tasting of mezcal and gin presented by David. Our last stop was a five minute drive to 5 Estrellas, a small family owned artisanal palenque - more incredibly delicious mescal!
Our day ended with lunch at Azul Adobe, a small family owned restaurant, and quite possibly the best meal I had on Oaxaca!
Thank you León for a wonderful day!
Pedro y Anna
Written June 10, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Felisa Rogers
Deadwood, OR18 contributions
Nov 2019
The word unique is overused, but this truly was a unique experience. I've been traveling in Mexico for forty years and am a seasoned travel writer. I've visited many mezcal palenques on my own. Thus, I was skeptical about going on a tour. But I'm so glad I did. I would never have been able to get this kind of access on my own.
After a fun orientation night in the city of Oaxaca, we got up early in the morning to travel far into the lush Sierra de Juarez mountains to the remote Tosba distillery and the home turf of master distiller Edgar González, his wife Andrea, and his charming family.
The accommodations were rustic, as advertised. A few of us brought tents and the other guests slept in a basic bunkhouse. But we were treated like kings. Andrea Gonzalez is an amazing cook who specializes in local, indigenous delicacies. We feasted on venison ribs, giant homemade tortillas, fresh eggs, incredible salsas, and black beans, all cooked over a wood fire.
We spent two full days at the Tosba palenque, and our tour leader and Edgar had perfectly timed it so we were able to participate in or witness all aspects of the distilling process--from farm to table. We toured Tosba's sustainable agave farm, planted agave seedlings, witnessed harvest, helped fill the ovens, later helped remove cooked agave from the steaming pit, and then watched the traditional crushing of the gave hearts with a horse-powered tahona. Meanwhile, Edgar was distilling a batch of pechuga and we sat up at night in the glow of the wood-fired still, sampling the "fresh" mezcal--from heads to tails.
Highlights included hiking to drink mezcal in a tropical waterfall and hanging out with a great group of people. Edgar and Andrea are lovely, tour leader Clayton Szczech is charming and adept at sharing his deep knowledge of agave spirits, and Experience Agave guide Darinel Silva was incredibly attentive and made everyone feel at home and cared for. Partially through Szczech's ability to put people at ease, our group of (mostly) strangers soon coalesced into a lively and relaxed group of friends.
Overall, the entire experience felt fun and relaxed while simultaneously engaging, rich in detail, and well-organized. I learned a lot.
This was a real adventure and an experience of a lifetime.
After a fun orientation night in the city of Oaxaca, we got up early in the morning to travel far into the lush Sierra de Juarez mountains to the remote Tosba distillery and the home turf of master distiller Edgar González, his wife Andrea, and his charming family.
The accommodations were rustic, as advertised. A few of us brought tents and the other guests slept in a basic bunkhouse. But we were treated like kings. Andrea Gonzalez is an amazing cook who specializes in local, indigenous delicacies. We feasted on venison ribs, giant homemade tortillas, fresh eggs, incredible salsas, and black beans, all cooked over a wood fire.
We spent two full days at the Tosba palenque, and our tour leader and Edgar had perfectly timed it so we were able to participate in or witness all aspects of the distilling process--from farm to table. We toured Tosba's sustainable agave farm, planted agave seedlings, witnessed harvest, helped fill the ovens, later helped remove cooked agave from the steaming pit, and then watched the traditional crushing of the gave hearts with a horse-powered tahona. Meanwhile, Edgar was distilling a batch of pechuga and we sat up at night in the glow of the wood-fired still, sampling the "fresh" mezcal--from heads to tails.
Highlights included hiking to drink mezcal in a tropical waterfall and hanging out with a great group of people. Edgar and Andrea are lovely, tour leader Clayton Szczech is charming and adept at sharing his deep knowledge of agave spirits, and Experience Agave guide Darinel Silva was incredibly attentive and made everyone feel at home and cared for. Partially through Szczech's ability to put people at ease, our group of (mostly) strangers soon coalesced into a lively and relaxed group of friends.
Overall, the entire experience felt fun and relaxed while simultaneously engaging, rich in detail, and well-organized. I learned a lot.
This was a real adventure and an experience of a lifetime.
Written March 13, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear glassmongoose,
Thank you so much for your extremely thorough review! It was a pleasure having you along, and we hope to have you back on a tour someday!
Saludos.
Written March 17, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Mariamarta P
Antigua, Guatemala
¿Cómo podemos hacer reservación para el 2 de julio? Somos dos personas
Written June 13, 2022
Hola, como hago para reservar el tour? SerÃa para la próxima semana miércoles, jueves o viernes. Una persona, gracias
Written March 21, 2018
Hola! Se puede reservar en nuestro sitio Web (Trip Advisor no nos permite poner enlaces). Te esperamos!
Written March 24, 2018
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