What you actually do
The hosts are Fernando and Maryori, who have worked at one of Oaxaca’s larger distilleries and behind the city’s bars; reviews also name Margery, Theo, Gerardo and Francesco, so the host on your date varies. The session opens with the production process, shown with audiovisual material rather than a palenque visit, then moves to the flight.
Six mezcals is the floor. They are chosen to contrast region, agave and class, and one reviewer counted “over 10 different mezcals, starting with Espadín and ending with other varieties I didn’t know”. Crudités or snacks come with the pours, and you can try the classic accompaniments, sal de gusano among them.
The finale is the cocktail. You can mix your own, and several reviewers describe walking with the host to a nearby bar for a mezcal cocktail to close the session.
Read Mezcal 101 beforehand and the six glasses will make more sense; the brands and types guide helps if you want to buy a bottle afterwards.
What’s included (and what isn’t)
Included:
- Tasting of more than six mezcals
- Crudités and/or snacks with the tasting
- A mezcal cocktail you can prepare yourself
- A drink to stay hydrated
- Audiovisual material on the production process
Nothing is listed as excluded, and no on-site charges are mentioned. The venue is in Centro, so there is no transport to pay for.
Who it’s for / who should skip it
It is the right choice for a first night in Oaxaca, for a budget that does not stretch to a day tour, and for anyone who wants to understand what they are ordering in the mezcalerías for the rest of the trip. The group is small, up to 10, the operator pitches it as an evening among friends, and it runs in English and Spanish.
It is not a palenque visit. If seeing an earth oven and a still is the point, book The Mezcal Journey or Mezcal Tour Oaxaca instead. Under-18s are excluded.
What travellers say
All ten reviews visible on the listing are 5★; the value-for-money sub-score is 4.7.
“A fun tasting session which lasted a couple of hours in a good venue in central oaxaca. The host was excellent and the mezcals were good quality.” — Indranil, United Kingdom, June 2026
“We tried over 10 different mezcals, starting with Espadín and ending with other varieties I didn’t know, and I felt like taking 2 or 3 different bottles.” — Mariano, August 2025
“You do not feel, that they want to serve you only small portions of mezcal to save money, but it was very easy going and generous.” — Martin, March 2025
“We tasted loads of different mezcals, learned a lot, and were taken to a lovely cocktail bar afterwards to try a mezcal cocktail.” — Julie, United Kingdom, April 2026
Three points repeat: the host’s enthusiasm, generous pours, and the cocktail-bar finish. One review mentions dietary needs being accommodated. The review base is small, 20 against 111 for The Mezcal Journey, but there is no dissent in it.
Compared with the other tastings
| Tour | Price | Hours | Rating | What you get |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Best Mezcal Tasting | $36 pp | 2 | 4.8★ (20) | 6+ mezcals, snacks, cocktail, max 10, downtown |
| Candlelight Mezcal Tasting with Wild Agaves | $87 pp | 2 | 2.7★ (2) | 5 wild-agave mezcals, ritual format, clay vessel gift, Centro |
| The Mezcal Journey | $104 pp | 6 | 4.8★ (111) | Agave field + palenque, unlimited tasting, lunch, max 12 |
Choose The Best Mezcal Tasting for the most pours per unit of money and a review record to lean on. The Candlelight session costs more than twice as much for five pours and two reviews. For all city sessions side by side, see tasting classes in Oaxaca City.
Practical details
- Meeting point: 20 de Noviembre SN, Centro, walking distance from anywhere in the historic centre.
- Languages: English and Spanish.
- Group: small group, maximum 10.
- Cancellation: free up to 24 hours before, full refund. Reserve now, pay later is available.
- Price: currently discounted from its regular rate.
- Not suitable for: under 18s.
Book it for your first evening, then use what you learned to pick a palenque day: the Hierve el Agua combos pair a distillery with the petrified waterfalls.