As the street art in Oaxaca says, "Mezcal is culture, not a commodity." If you hear "Mezcal tour... read more
As the street art in Oaxaca says, "Mezcal is culture, not a commodity." If you hear "Mezcal tour... read more
Very simply, you must do this tour. If you only had 2 days in Oaxaca, I think Randal’s tour should... read more
My husband and I have been to Oaxaca numerous times. Such a great city and so much to do. This year we went on Alvin Starkman's Mezcal Educational Tour. It was easily one of the most memorable day trips we have taken. Alvin's knowledge of Mezcal and the Mezcal producers is very thorough! We learned so much and each palenque we visited was informative and at each palenque we were able to taste a selection of their Mezcals. I work for an alcohol distribution company, so I'm a little jaded, but this day was exceptional! Alvin took us to visit with the traditional producers of the region, down back roads, not on the radar of any other tour. From the clay stills to the pot stills, to the communal distilleries, everything we learned about was informative and everyone we visited was gracious and helpful. I learned enough on this tour that I will be able to do an introductory seminar for our sales team. This is the real deal. Authentic, traditional, delicious and mezcal has more nuance than I ever dreamed imaginable. Thank you so much Alvin! Next year we hope to go on a multi-day tour!
I already knew this was going to be an amazing experience from the detailed email I received from Alvin before arriving to Oaxaca. In it, he outlined the different possibilities of the adventure ahead, what to expect, and the range of mezcals that would be available to try, as well as options for buying and transporting any of the mezcals should you have interest in buying any. However this was not one of those tours where you are pressured to buy, with the guide receiving a kickback.
Alvin has clearly become part of the community that he helps by bringing customers their way, and even will give the people at different palenques beverages or something if no one in the tour has interest in purchasing.
The ride was very comfortable, and we drove well out to the pueblas located outside the city of Oaxaca. I learned much more about the different agaves and processes than I ever thought I would, as well as was given the opportunity to try multiple different mezcals at several different locations.
Alvin really knows his stuff when it comes to the mezcal process, and has even grown his own agave and been involved in mezcal production.The rustic settings for these palenques were beautiful, and the people working there were kind and informative.
It was clearly the high point of my trip to Oaxaca, and I am extremely happy that I took this tour. When I told my friend who owns a mezcaleria about the tour, she was very impressed, and she is someone who has studied mezcal in Oaxaca and been to many different fabricas. If you go to Oaxaca, I highly recommend you take this tour. It will introduce you to areas you might not otherwise see, and give you a unique perspective of one of the most important products in Mexico, and the artisans who craft it.
Firstly, Alvin was amazing. Driving down the back roads, sipping mezcal, and going where no tour bus could even think of going was epic! We stopped at several small distilleries where they stored their elixir in 5 gal jugs. The hot tip I want to pass on is about bringing the Mezcal back into the US. I brought back 9 bottles...bottled and sealed by Alvin. When the Customs agent asked, I told them I had 9 bottles. They told me I would have to pay taxes. Oh No! Alvin told me he had never heard of anyone having to pay taxes! So I went to the counter and they told me tax on 7 bottles (two were free) was$9.00. What! Only $9.00? Yup. Knowing what I know now, that these small batch bottles of wonderfulness would cost north of $100 in the US, I would have brought back 20 bottles and paid the $1.28tax per bottle. If your' going to tour with Alvin, take an extra piece of luggage and go big.
Thank you for the kind words. I believe I indicated that it is extremely rare for a US customs agent to ask a traveller to pay tax/duty, because without a doubt it costs the US government more to process the person, the paperwork, etc., than the amount ultimately collected. In fact three months prior to taking this gentleman on an excursion, I had crossed into the US at Houston, with more than the duty free limit, and was asked to pay $10 USD for my six bottles. My travelling companion was not asked if she had any alcohol, so was simply waived through with her six bottles. But the point remains, that in my opinion it is not worth sweating about bringing extra into the country. Tell the truth and if asked to pay, do so with a smile since you are still far ahead of the game, relative to the cost of buying equivalent quality mezcal in the US. And in the past 26 years, entering Canada I have never been asked to pay for excess I have willingly stating I am bringing in, over perhaps 75 times crossing into Canada. Thanks again for the kind words. I'm thrilled that you enjoyed the day with me.
At home in Canada, I had started getting into mezcal before visiting Oaxaca, but this tour expanded my knowledge so much. Alvin is a fantastic guide and a super interesting person. During the day, Alvin showed me and my girlfriend several examples of traditional mezcal production in a number of villages around Oaxaca, taking care to describe the entire process and the history behind it. It wouldn't be a mezcal tour without some tastings, and boy did this tour deliver on that front. We tried upwards of 20 different mezcals during the day and Alvin is kind enough to re-bottle anything you purchase so that you can take it home with you by air and clear customs. We ended up leaving with 3 bottles of one-of-a-kind mezcal and a much deeper understanding of the drink and its importance to the people of Oaxaca. If you're interested, make sure you book your tour far in advance, as Alvin only does a limited amount of tours based on his schedule and other bookings. Definitely the highlight of our trip. Thank you so much Alvin!
We loved our week-long vacation in Oaxaca and the day we spent on the Mezcal trail with Alvin was the highlight of our trip. Alvin is extremely knowledgeable, personable and fun. He took us to off the beaten path palenques to experience every stage of the traditional mezcal making process. We learned so much and had a great time experiencing the Oaxacan countryside. Alvin has spent many years cultivating relationships with mezcaleros and he brings you to their homes and production facilities that would otherwise not be accessible.This was an exceptional experience. Booking a day with Alvin is worth every peso. Can't say enough good things. Don't miss this excursion!
what a fun day! we tasted a wide variety of delicious mezcals while learning about the process by visiting artisans who have used the same techniques for hundreds of years. alvin was terrific at explaining what we were seeing, and he helps support a group of craftsmen who take great pride in their products. we expressed an interest in the wood animal carvings for which oaxaca is so famous; alvin included a stop there for us. we can't recommend this too highly!