07/07/2026
“A little-known episode in the history of traditional mezcal was the harassment of producers by tax authorities in the 1950s and 60s. To survive this harassment, the master mezcal makers had to develop clandestine resistance strategies, such as…
Mobile and hidden palenques (distilleries): hey moved the distillation areas deep in the mountains, inside caves, ravines, or other very inaccessible areas.
Night distillation: They baked and distilled only at night to prevent the smoke from the wood from being visible from afar.
Secret sales: The mezcal was transported hidden in clay pots under loads of firewood, corn, or alfalfa, and sold by word of mouth only to extremely trusted buyers. They moved their production along trails and maintained warning networks to avoid raids.”
Felix Hernandez Monterrosa
founder of
