Casa Raab Zapoteco Mescal Distillery
My friend Charlie and I visited Tony this week at his Casa Raab estate, about 30 minutes north of Oaxaca City, where he has built a traditional Zapoteco mescal distillery.
From the Casa Raab website:
“Mezcal is the traditional local distilled liquor. It is made, like tequilla, from cooked agave hearts. Mezcal making in Oaxaca is still a rather primitive process, and the excellent quality illustrates the difference between a careful hand made product and an industrial one. Drinking mezcal in Oaxaca is a bit like drinking wine in France; the varieties are amazing, and the quality can’t be found anywhere else.”
Casa Raab has been collecting hand made mezcal directly from the remote stills in the mountains for over ten years. We also grow maguey (agave) plants by the thousands. We have a medium size pottery still on the property where we process hand picked “pinas” that come from our fields. Once or twice a year we do a “run”, and try to produce some of the best mezcal in the world. Visiting during a distilling period is great fun, and really educational.”
Tony is also growing the rare Tovala agave which makes a more flavorful mescal. I bought 1.5 liters which I will age in glass bottles. Charlie, however, loaded up with about 5 gallons of regular 2008 mescal which he will leave in Oaxaca to age until he returns from Canada next year…providing no one gets into it first! 🙂
On the Casa Raab web site you will also see lovely pictures of Tony’s estate where they provide beautiful Zapoteco style lodging, tours and other activities. I guarantee Tony, levitating with help below, would show you a good time!
Tags: Casa Raab, Mexico, Oaxaca, Zapoteco mescal
Zoe
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