Traditional Mezcal Production in Zapotitlán de Vadillo

Abstract

The south of the state of Jalisco is a region where agave distillates known as mezcal have been produced for centuries. As observed at the end of the sixteenth century by René Acuña (1988: 69) in a text titled Relaciones Geográficas (dated 1579), in this region there is “a tree called MEXCATL, which the Spaniards call ‘maguey,’ from which is made wine, vinegar, honey, ropes, clothing, wood for homes, needles, nails, thread, [and] much approved ointment for wounds.” In spite of