Mezcal producers preserve traditional methods as demand for liquor grows | 60 Minutes

Demand for mezcal was low for years, but interest and sales have soared. The vast majority of the spirit is made in Oaxaca, Mexico, where family-owned distilleries dot the landscape.
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[@isaacvicente9226]

As someone from Oaxaca that comes from a family of Mezcaleros it makes me happy to see where it is today. I saw how my uncle struggled in the early days to make ends meet. I use to see older people walking around with 5 gallon jugs trying to sell their Mezcal in town. Not anymore.

[@CallmeBotakaOrc]

You should be embarrassed to be a damn liar.

[@isaacvicente9226]

@@CallmeBotakaOrc 😂😂

[@edyann]

Saludos desde Baja California. Nunca he ido al sur de mi país. Ojalá un día!

[@JasonPopcornzWorld]

We must gatekeep harder

[@David-gw5ec]

@@CallmeBotakaOrcit’s true pocho

[@angelinamclaughlin-heil]

Beautiful story of family and traditions! Great episode!

[@elduderino2409]

I have had the utmost pleasure to live in Mexico for 22 years and very fortunate to live near a Mezcal producer. It costs about $3.50 US a liter and is the smoothest most peaceful drink of all time. Viva Mexico

[@estebancorral5151]

@@elduderino2409 Y a la maldición con las suegras ogras!!!

[@adrianm6199]

3.50 a liter? Where in Mexico is this that you are getting way below market price?

[@abokwu]

best Mezcal commercial I have ever seen

[@thefamouspeopleus]

It's fascinating to see how mezcal producers are committed to preserving traditional methods even as demand rises

[@dennismorris7573]

Very important this.

[@Manuelabor1978]

Beautiful

[@MannyVega-k1i]

wait 'til all these opportunistic celebrities want to make money and start making their own mezcal brand smh.

[@Deltron6060]

​@MannyVega-k1i It's already happening where have you been?

[@jimmyconn7314]

I was surfing in Puerto escondido in 74,75 and it was Samana santos.i was hanging out with my friends in mexico and one night after a great day of riding big waves we all hung out and this one guy had some home brewed mescaline in a glass jug.we all stayed up all night loving life .really awesome!

[@JamesConn-e3w]

I forgot to mention we called it pulke

[@VerdigrisVotives]

Mescaline is unrelated to distilled agave {mezcal}...

[@Robgeee]

@@JamesConn-e3wI’m from San Diego & the local news just did a story on pulke! There’s like only one restaurant in San Diego that sells pulke

[@FemiNelson-sb1em]

​@JamesConn-e3w So there must be non alcoholic "Pulque", bc we use to drink it as kids n omgosh, it was the best. Paz be with us all 🙏. "Isa"

[@FemiNelson-sb1em]

​@@Robgeee Name please? "Isa"

[@user-lowlow123]

Bravo. Mezcla is an ancestral drink I love. As a Mexican person I like these kind of report that explains culture.

[@raulmolina5162]

Viva Oaxaca , Viva el Mezcal , Viva México!

[@jesv4026]

Viva Puebla!

[@theloveofmezcal3873]

Graciela and her brother Edgar are making delicious mezcales under their family brand Real Minero. They're focusing on preserving maguey/seeds for future generations and giving back to their community. A great example of a brand to support. Cinco Sentidos also puts out good stuff from many different producers. Happy to see mezcaleros and mezcaleras get the recognition they deserve.

[@hildamaine8319]

Oaxaca is a beautiful place.

[@michaelpabon4480]

Only buy artisanal. No mass-produced

[@MissKMR]

The craft is beautiful ❤

[@adrianm6199]

Even some of the artisanal is mass produced. Very few brands stick to distilling traditional farmer mezcal.

[@Deltron6060]

You'll want ancestral Mezcal to ensure it's made the traditional way.

[@saulmaravilla]

As always.... excellent work Cecilia !!!!!!

[@HappyHourSportsTalk]

I remember when Mezcal was dirt cheap. My dad would buy jugs for like $5.

[@jclar7210]

Beautiful story! Please bring more docs like this. It’s nice to see how business can become successful and stay popular

[@jr3753]

VIVA MEXICO 🇲🇽 🇲🇽🇲🇽

[@bulldogface8259]

I'm so proud of you brother you make your family proud keep up the good work ❤️ GILBERT MARQUEZ ❤️

[@HungryTwoTravel]

Incredible story on mezcal! Very interesting to learn about this tasty spirit 🥃

[@therealbronxbull8541]

Toniyan is decent drank tf out of it when i lived in Los Reyes Michoacan, where my grandfather was born, you can see agave and zazamora fields up in the mountains for miles and an excellent view of Paricutin. Te extraño Mexico lindo.

[@FemiNelson-sb1em]

Mezcal has nutritional value as well. Claro que todo en moderaciòn. Paz be with us all 🙏. "Isa"

[@vanessanaranjo7704]

Mezcal ❤. Solo para conocedores ❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@FemiNelson-sb1em]

Sadly tourism is hurting Oaxaca, bc ppl do NOT respect the locals & expect them cater to tourism idea vs a tourist open to REALLY learn to appreciate the history, the ppl, the life, the food & all that should NOT change. Paz be with us all 🙏. "Isa"

[@marimarramirez6805]

Tourist must adapt to the country they decide to go to.

[@MSD-c2g]

I don’t know about anyone else out in mezcal land but it has helped me lose weight! And not because I drink it like water but I thoroughly enjoy it in any way my imagination lets me

[@hardassteel]

What?

[@LeroyBrown]

The addictions delude

[@marimarramirez6805]

Your losing weight maybe because your skipping on meals to "truly" enjoy this traditional alcoholic beverage . Haha

[@ignaciovarga3162]

In a world full of murders, betrayals, double crossings and lies. This story gives me hope and fills me with pride.

[@VerdigrisVotives]

Sadly, if you knew the true/deeper/more-nuanced story of these bigger brands who have sold out to multinationals you'd likely be right back to total disillusionment...

[@HappyD0905]

And more Americans are finding out that the American dream is harder and harder to accomplish. And their moving down to Mexico to accomplish that dream...#MexicanDream

[@FemiNelson-sb1em]

Or to destroy the work & preservation of the descendants of those whom left a legacy of beauty. History shows that foreigners are just too greedy n lose focus. I pray not. Paz be with us all 🙏. "Isa"

[@FemiNelson-sb1em]

Not to mention what their own Govt impose. Govt in every nation have no true interest in preserving what is healthy & lovely. They are only interested in greed & control. Its 💔 . Paz be with us all 🙏. "Isa"

[@tracyaskew1651]

Mezcal over Tequila any day. I love the smokey taste! I live in Mexico so I have access to the best quality.

[@adrianm6199]

Smokiness is not a trait that is prominent in a well made traditional mezcal, but the opposite.

[@cegemahe]

Mezcal is not only produced in Oaxaca state, but also in the states of Puebla, Guanajuato, Zacatecas y San Luis Potosí, and each and every one of their produces have their own great taste.

[@supergrupokli2]

Original mezcal is from Oaxaca. Government officials got paid off to allow those other states to use the name “Mezcal”. Real mezcal is from Oaxaca

[@jago09]

That 100 million Bacardi dealmwas WAY too low. They could have definitely sold it for way more

[@ALCRAN2010]

I just read of Pepsi Co bought a tortilla chip company for US$ 1.2 billion. 😶 Crazy.

[@thomasbarnes1983]

Hella low!

[@marimarramirez6805]

Gotta take advantage of the opportunity when it arrives, Bacardi could've easily bought a competitor

[@BlueberryStrawBerr]

@@marimarramirez6805thats a scared move

[@SyndicateSuperman]

That's $2 billion pesos when you take the exchange rate into account. That's a multiple lifetime sum for damn near anyone.

[@thee_calamity]

Mezcal is a smooth liquor. I had some when I was like 10 years old lol. And it tasted weird. But I started drinking it in my 20s and I like it a lot, especially with a slice of orange and sal de gusano (worm salt). 🔥

[@adrianm6199]

Mezcal is a distillate not a liquor. Two diff things.

[@thee_calamity]

@@adrianm6199 thank you for the info! I don’t know much about spirits and stuff mostly drink beer hehe

[@michaelcharlesthearchangel]

Mezcal (Oaxaca), Bacanora (Sonora, Sinaloa border too), Raicilla (Norte), Sotol (Chihuahua), and Tequila (Tequila, Sinaloa). The five hermanos of agave * correction.

[@saenzgerry]

Sotol (Chihuahua)

[@dennismorris7573]

Yes, with Tequila primarily from Jalisco, where I live.

[@michaelcharlesthearchangel]

@@saenzgerry, correction. The 5 hermanos of agave.

[@CallmeBotakaOrc]

Ahhh no, false

[@theloveofmezcal3873]

Bacanora comes from Sonora. And mezcal can come from other states of Mexico, but Oaxaca has the most diversity of agave. They also produce the most that is exported.

[@vvmc11]

Mezcal ❤

[@THEBANDIT7979]

Buy artisanal. Mexican owned and produced. These hardworking people should get all the rewards.

[@treycannon6783]

Better yet, go there and pay them directly. This is what we do.

[@JohnnyFranco-m9m]

🎉 mezcal is a favorite spirit I love !!

[@LOADUP01]

If you have never had mescal, you have no idea what youre missing

[@estebancorral5151]

If you never had to clean up, vomit, urine, and feces from someone who has had too much mezcal then you don’t know that you had been touched by angel.

[@manuelgonzalez5508]

Wow proud to be a son of Mexican parents viva 🇲🇽

[@liamwinter388]

what a beautiful creation out of the unimaginable life change for all that risk it, the many fasting thoughts of hoping to not fail. life repays you back, leads you to a road of living and full circle back to what was once a lost hope.

[@ALCRAN2010]

19:49 , a rose by any other name would smell as sweet. Great play on words!

[@fabulousrobert6607]

Viva Mescal 🎉 🎊 🇲🇽

[@kelrune]

Drinks are enjoyed they way you like it. i learned that from learning about Whiskey.

[@LOADUP01]

Have you had any mescal?

[@kelrune]

@@LOADUP01 Yes, reminds me alot of scotch

[@adrianm6199]

@@kelrune The smokiness from mezcal is too diff form the peatiness from islay scotches.

[@johncastles3724]

Real authentic mezcal is nothing like whiskey or scotch!! The only American alcohol that even comes close to real mezcal is moonshine!!

[@Mr.SharkTooth-zc8rm]

😎👍I love the entire state! I admit I no longer watch 60 Minutes very often because they lost their political neutrality. This video was very well done. I hope these folks can do the growth part without big corporate greed ruining everything as it always does...

[@louiemartinez97]

i definitely need a bottle of ‘ilegal’ after watching this! mezcal in cocktails is more and more popular these days here in LA!🖤

[@emiliodelconde6416]

I'm not going to try to sway you from buying Ilegal but please also buy any of the other mezcals shown in this segment so you can compare them for yourself and learn what good mezcal tastes like.

[@marimarramirez6805]

Okay foo

[@adrianm6199]

Mezcal in mixology or in cocktails is the biggest detriment for the future of the agave and non agave distillates in Mexico.

[@josea.aguirre5952]

Tradition is the best ingredient in a wonderful old recipe!

[@bryanfox2735]

I ate the worm back in the mid 90’s!!!

[@gregorywright1684]

Ironically, the sort of attention 60 minutes puts on this wonderful Mexican industry is what may put it at risk.

[@thomasdominguez8421]

Im pretty sure the cartel is being paid off

[@tinoorb4550]

Oaxaca, un sitio especial

[@kirbyskulls1]

Who else noticed no mezcal in final the glasses at the end. Faking it as usual. 😂😂😂😂😂

[@BaltazarRamirez-ku4rq]

Hope the mezcaleros stay true to the Mexican traditions. I see a lot of American owned tequila distilleries modernize and obtain that industrial flavor

[@marimarramirez6805]

That's the end of traditional mezcal. Just like tequila ended up industrialized

[@adrianm6199]

Almost all tequila distilleries are mexican owned, but there are plenty of US owned tequila brands using contract distilleries.

[@DANPER64]

For all you gringos that tequila is something else, this has much better taste and no after taste like tequila has.

[@ardr1240]

Am from the region where people grow the plants to make mezcal. They are using heavy pesticides that cause many side effects.😮

[@hexcamm412]

I’m from a town where they recently started growing agave too and our river waters went from crystal clear to a foggy greenish color not to mention people are complaining that the water makes their body itchy ….

[@marimarramirez6805]

If you guys pay attention, it's the demand that drives owners to use this pesticide to get more yields. So the problem is the foreigners driving up the demand. Why couldn't they just stick to there stupid moonshine

[@dennismorris7573]

Very nice speech.

[@joeanthony8087]

The only thing I didn’t like about this is yall edited the part where they spoke Zapotec which I wanted to hear

[@entheonica]

The old man said some words in zapotec

[@lizc.8318]

Excelente ❤😊 buena suerte 🍀

[@andrewmackemzie4565]

I would say, industrialization is inevitable.. maybe history will play out differently this time, but i doubt it..

[@TylerHampton-go8ev]

I was just in Oaxaca visiting the Palenques of Banhez. Tepeztate always wins!

[@mrjacksonSEDC]

I used to ask for this in the months following the release of the film Fear & Loathing. The bar tenders … even the latino ones used to look at me like I was crazy … then say they didn’t have it.

[@kaywhay3690]

A real business woman.

[@BenitoRManzo]

Cecilia Vega you were Destin to work for CBS 60 minutes.

[@jluc155]

I think Mezcal is very underrated in the liquor business. it's cheap and gets you tipsy quickly😂

[@marimarramirez6805]

Not anymore sadly

[@adrianm6199]

Used to be, but now it is getting what its worth.

[@pam190]

I just last night heard ppl ordering Mezcal on a New York reality show.

[@mrwhitefolks1211]

The DREAM.........GREAT JOB

[@TheEdmex3]

for a while now, i have been hearing about the Mexican Dream. For a while now, i have noticed a lot of people from around the world moving to Mexico, hummm interesting 😮

[@Cire8425]

Awesome.

[@cobra96mystic]

Love the shirt @ 3:19

[@joelamthach5812]

I am so glad to see Mexicans doing well!!! No one deserves to be successful more than the Mexicans!!!!

[@rayh.3478]

and surprisingly! the best mezcals ive tasted are the uncertified mezcals. Real Minero and 5 Sentidos in this video are some of the best mezcals... oops, i mean destilados de agave on the market today！beats the thousands of brands with a `mezcal´ on the label 😎

[@MickyAvStickyHands]

I love that the trend seekers are going to Mezcal. Let's me sip my "boring/corporate" tequila in peace.

[@francisphillips53]

Wow! Now that’s orange honey. 😮😮😮

[@khc8800]

The most interesting part of this news segment is Cecilia Vega.

[@reychafamex9450]

Indeed.🥰

[@Jmg831]

She’s gorgeous ❤

[@Destradamose]

Sooomebody is really enjoying her job right now.

[@user-fp6rb1tx1e]

VIVA MEXICO !!!!!!

[@fredjohnson9856]

Cafe No Se - good times

[@jennw36]

One of the best in the world

[@rossbanuelos5530]

Pokito a japon porfavor..😂

[@Factsoverfeels8]

🇲🇽 💰

[@LexiRey24]

Love Mezcal more than tequila. ❤

[@zopilotegalaz1128]

Mezcal is also made in the sonora state,is called bacanora.

[@walterrojas2761]

Hard to believe that this Mezcal Ilegal can be considered strictly speaking ‘artesanal’ with this production volume. Other weird thing is the color of some of the liquid, looks like ‘añejo’ and Mezcal Origin Denomination rule is that spirit drink aged in wood barrel is not Mezcal.

[@adrianm6199]

Unfortunately, the NOM or DO that regulates it, says aging is allowed.

[@JjDon-k5x]

The original liquor is found in used milk gallons in California extra warm in the stomach

[@benjaminrodriguez7356]

Mezcal is from the Nahuatl language; not the "Aztec" language.

[@jennifermartin3570]

My favorite brand is Silencio

[@ositofreitas]

Illegal is not a good example of real traditional process. They produce on a massive scale and use Espadin. Looks to be all cultivated mezcal as well.

[@eryyxsan311]

Ahem!! 7:13 “Boston George, El Americano, late 60s”.😅🍻

[@dctriathlon2012]

Amazing

[@ianggg373]

Heisenberg and pinkman effect

[@axis7879]

As a Mexican i am scared y'all gonna start driving the prices up ngl 😢 not avocado again, no tequila again pls guys

[@michaelbaumgardner2530]

I so Hope they don't lose there tradition, I enjoy sipping good mescal.

[@jayz.life.1183]

I seriously learned a lot.. thank you

[@mrwest5552]

Veintidós minutos de alegría - AND the Gorgeous Women ! Like 👍

[@johncastles3724]

The best Mezcal is from Michoacan or Guerrero!!

[@TheEdmex3]

so let me get this straight. These brothers illegally went into the US in search of the American Dream, and somehow, they ended up back where they came from and found the Mexican Dream. Wow!! that's a lesson for many to learn

[@THEBANDIT7979]

I’ve been drinking mezcal since the late 70s. Gringos always late to the party. Mexican cuisine and culture is unrivaled. Only the Italians and Chinese come far close.

[@buzz5969]

Ypu mean SPANISH CUISINE Amigo, thats were you adopted it from amigo.😊

[@THEBANDIT7979]

Mexican cuisine and Spanish cuisine are very different. Amigo.

[@buzz5969]

@@THEBANDIT7979 Mexican cuisine was a result of Spanish cuisine fusion.

[@THEBANDIT7979]

@@buzz5969 corn tortillas ? Tacos ? That’s not Spanish. Rice dishes are. Not corn tortillas.

[@adrianm6199]

@@buzz5969 Lol, no.

[@Novilicious]

I always like Tequila more; I don’t get the hype. Tequila is “cleaner” and simpler tasting; Mezcal is more complex. I think I haven’t had a good one so I’ll make sure to get a taste of the good stuff

[@railroado1238]

I tried mezcal for the first time last week. Bought a 50 dollar bottle. It was horrible. I’ll stick with tequila

[@joshokc]

They don’t want to pay the tax to SAT.

[@ray831ray]

Still haven’t tried a Mescal I can drink straight

[@adrianm6199]

MeZcal is not for everybody.

[@ray831ray]

@@adrianm6199 I agree with you

[@edumops1]

Try mezcal from Durango, highly wild not planted

[@SombraLocs]

Durango is not known for Mezcal. It's like trying to tell people to try tequila from Colombia.

[@pewterpirate4560]

From the Bourbon trail ..be careful

[@Firstofhername007]

I truly hope Bacardi helps preserve their traditions ❤

[@seddrickbell8845]

Whenever big business meets artistic creativity, prepare to have your heart broken. -Dave Chapelle

[@rogelioespinosa3458]

lol

[@hardassteel]

They will find a way to automate it and have artificial flavors

[@leszekkot3373]

protect these guys from cartels

[@Billyboy4209]

Had some right out of the thumper or what ever it’s called. Boy was it hot! Temp and spicy. Good stuff though.

[@johncastles3724]

Real mezcal brewed at home is mothing like scotch, whiskey!, ir cognac! The only American thing that comes close to mezcal, is moonshine!!

[@japg-iq8gk]

You are a couple years late on this news!

[@macrosense]

I am from the Rowe family. Alcohol makes us weaker.