Woman-Led · Indigenous-Owned · Independent
Mestiza Negra — Artesanal Mezcal from Oaxaca
Artesanal mezcal from Maestra Mezcalera Doña Juana's distillery in Santiago Matatlán, Oaxaca. Founded 1960. Indigenous, woman-led, family-run.
La Historia · Maestra Mezcalera
Doña Juana
Doña Juana grew up in Santiago Matatlán, Oaxaca, in a family of mezcal producers. Agave fields and roasting pits surrounded her childhood. When her father died young, she learned every stage of the work — planting, roasting, fermenting, distilling — and took over selling the family's mezcal. In a trade run by men, she became the one in charge.
Her husband, Don Serafín, founded the distillery in 1960. When he died, Doña Juana took over every step. She still runs every step herself, with her sons at the distillery. The methods haven't changed since.
El Proceso · Humo · Tierra · Fuego
From Earth to Fire to Glass
No shortcuts. No industrial equipment. The way the distillery has made mezcal since 1960.
Roast. Agave hearts roast for 5 days in underground pits lined with volcanic rock and mesquite.
Crush. A two-ton horse-drawn tahona crushes the roasted agave. No shredders.
Ferment. Open-air fermentation in pine and encino vats, 8–12 days. Only wild Matatlán yeast.
Notas de Cata
What You'll Taste
Nose. Churned butter, sweet cream, sugar cane, peach, mango.
Palate. Tobacco, lime, Herbs de Provence, with a trace of smoke.
Finish. Clean, light mouthfeel. Smooth, no burn.
Cocktail Recipes · From the Oaxaca Open
Mezcal Cocktail Recipes
Five winning cocktails from California bartenders, built on Mestiza Negra mezcal. Original recipes from the Oaxaca Open competition.
- Florista — Guava, rose water and a triad of peppers, skewered together into a margarita with nerve.
- Dulces Sueños — Mango, papaya and jalapeño — fresh-off-the-vine levity with a serious evening kick.
- Short Shake Redemption — A photoshoot-ready POG margarita with passionfruit, galangal and a lemongrass-bitters whisper.
- Shattered Teeth — A mojito-curious margarita built on beef-tallow-washed mezcal, with a mint-chinicuile foam crown.
- Taste of Derek — A stately margarita where roasted pineapple and blistered jalapeño share a glass with mezcal.
Available At
Find Your Bottle
Every bottle traces back to Doña Juana and her family. No corporate distributor, no parent company. 300+ stores across California and Texas at Trader Joe's, Total Wine, and Goody Goody.