Mezcal Tastings in Mexico: 15 Palenques and Counters

1.Food & Mixology Tour:Tequila,Tacos, Mezcal and Agave Cocktails

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,884 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $98Our pick

Walk Puerto Vallarta’s Romantic Zone with guides such as Edgar, Gio, Miel, and Bernardo, stopping for tacos, seafood, dessert, tequila, mezcal, pulque, raicilla, and six cocktails. This adults-only tour lasts about four hours, caps the group at 10, and blends local food, Mexican spirits, neighborhood history, and plenty of cobblestone walking.

“Gio was an amazing guide. The food, drinks and educational moments were great! So glad we booked this. Totally worth the money. We need the venmo info for our guide so we can tip him.”

Check availability →Read our full review

2.Hierve el Agua, Tule Tree, Mitla and Mezcal Distillery Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,094 reviews · 12 hours (approx.) · from $55

Travel from Oaxaca City to the ancient Tule tree, a Teotitlán del Valle weaving workshop, Mitla, and Hierve el Agua. You’ll also visit a traditional mezcal distillery with tastings. Guides such as Adriel, Miguel, Andrea, and Kevin are praised for energy and local insight, though the long day, walking, mixed-language groups, and sales focus may not suit everyone.

“This was a wonderful and full but really flowing day. Our tour guide Andrea was awesome and helpful and everyone in the tour gelled really well! We got to see almost everything we wanted in just one day and the vibes were high the entire time- starting with the service at the cute cafe that is situated in Oaxaca by Locals. Weather was perfect and we learned so much about the rich culture of this region of Oaxaca from the Zapotecs to contemporary time. The tree is also a spiritual experience… it has such a profound energy. I recommend this experience -100 percent!”

Check availability →Read our full review

3.Lucha Libre Tickets & Tacos & Beer & Mezcal – Best Night Ever

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,077 reviews · from $84

Meet in Roma Norte, or Centro Histórico on Saturdays, for tacos, beer, mezcal, or pulque with guides such as Alice, Daniel, Julio, and Dulce. Learn the rules and chants, then watch Lucha Libre at Arena Mexico or the smaller Arena Coliseo. Your ticket, drinks, dinner, and a surprise souvenir are included.

“Barry and Dulce showed our group an amazing time! They were so, kind, and knowledgeable and we felt like we were among friends. The tacos stops were delicious and the luchador match beyond what we could have imagined. Would 100% recommend to others.”

Check availability →Read our full review

4.Explore Hierve el Agua, Mitla, Tule, Textile and Mezcal for a day

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,043 reviews · 11 hours (approx.) · from $75

Spend about 11 hours exploring Oaxaca’s best-known sights with an English-speaking guide such as Luis or Pavel. Walk and swim at Hierve el Agua, visit Mitla and the Tule Tree, watch wool rugs being made in Teotitlán, and taste mezcal. Transport, water, and site admissions are included, but lunch costs extra.

“Perfect whole - day tour - even 11 hours, but it wasn't to log for us. All day was perfect organized. Our guide Luis was very helpful and cooperative man, always answering on all the questions and trying to introduce us to local culture. The high light for us Hierve el Aqua - we recommend to chose longer trip - the views are just incredible. Highly recommended !”

Check availability →Read our full review

5.Hierve el Agua and Mezcal Distillery

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 615 reviews · 8 hours · from $64

Spend three unhurried hours hiking, swimming, and taking photos at Hierve el Agua, then visit a mezcal distillery for a guided tasting. English-speaking guides such as Leon, Stephany, and Margarita share regional stories along the way. Pickup, park entry, transport, and tastings are included, while food is extra.

“It was amazing. Our guide Leon was very attentive and went an extra mile to make sure everyone is comfortable and have a great time. The team of Leon and Don Pepe (driving) was great during our tour. Offering an authentic experience from the locals.”

Check availability →Read our full review

6.Lucha Libre Tour and Mezcal Tasting in Mexico City

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 519 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $134

Meet in Centro for an artisan mezcal tasting with guacamole, then walk up to a mile with a former luchador guide to Arena México. Arturo and Andres explain the rules, masks, chants, and characters before the show. Your ticket, mask, and guide are included, but seats are assigned by the box office.

“We had very good seats at the arena and the guide Artouro was very nice. The masks given were nice too.”

Check availability →Read our full review

7.Tule, Mitla & Hierve el Agua, & Mezcal Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 456 reviews · 10 hours · from $75

Spend 10 hours beyond Oaxaca City with hotel pickup, an English and Spanish speaking guide, and air-conditioned transport. See the Tule Tree, Mitla, Teotitlán weaving, and Hierve el Agua, then finish with a mezcal tasting. Guides such as Ede, Miguel, and Jeshua are praised for warmth and clear explanations, though the mezcal stop is brief.

“As the manager of a tour company myself, I was very impressed with the organisation of this tour. It’s a very very long day but everything is timed perfectly. And it’s great for anyone who wants to see lots of things in one day. Some people have said there’s not enough time at the petrified waterfalls, but I really think there was. I had more than enough time to enjoy it and move on to the next thing without getting bored. It’s absolutely beautiful up there. But I found 90 minutes of beauty more than sufficient. You don’t need hours in awe of it. So, overall it was a very…”

Check availability →Read our full review

8.Boil the water and distillery mezcal tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 413 reviews · 8 hours (approx.)

Spend three hours at Hierve el Agua for hiking, views, and a possible swim, then learn how mezcal is made and taste several varieties. English-speaking guides such as Margarita, Estefania, Leon, and Braulio lead the day. Expect an eight-hour outing from central Oaxaca, with a small-group feel and occasional bakery stop.

“The hike was great. An hour and 15 mins for the 'long' variety. Waterfalls are great, but the real treat is the ponds for swimming with a view. Maguerita, our guide was awesome and super fun to hang out with. The distillery tour was fun and they sent above and beyond for the mezcal tasting. We tasted 7 different mezcals (some more than once) and a handful of cremas as well. Let's just say that we got our moneys worth during the tasting. 10/10 will recommend. Salud.”

Check availability →Read our full review

9.Tequila and Mezcal Museum Tour with Tasting

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 301 reviews · 1.5 hours · from $40

Meet your bilingual guide at the Museo del Tequila y el Mezcal in Plaza Garibaldi for a 90 to 105 minute tour. See more than 2,000 bottles, learn how tequila and mezcal are made, then taste one blanco, one reposado, and two wild mezcales. Guides such as Ricardo and Maria explain the drinks in English or Spanish.

“Ricardo was extremely knowledgeable. As a novice tequila drinker from the United States, I found it fascinating to learn about the traditions of tequila, how it originated, and how it has evolved over time. Ricardo walked us through every step of the process — from the history and families who first created tequila, to the marketing and branching out of some of the most famous producers. The tasting itself was an incredible experience. Sampling different tequilas back-to-back was eye-opening, as it allowed us to truly notice the differences in quality, flavor profiles, and styles. Ricardo was very attentive, patient, and thorough in answering all of our questions. Overall, this was…”

Check availability →Read our full review

10.A Night of Tacos and Mezcal in Mexico City

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 262 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $135

Spend about three and a half hours eating through Mexico City with an English-speaking guide such as Andrés, Fernanda, or Maya. Visit several taquerias, taste roughly nine tacos, learn about mezcal at an underground bar, and ride between San Rafael, Roma Norte, Cuauhtémoc, and central sights in an air-conditioned minivan.

“Ended up being just us and was a wonderful experience. Andres was an amazing tour guide and extremely knowledgable. Would definitely recommend to anyone!”

Check availability →Read our full review

11.Guided tour of an ancestral Mezcal distillery with transport

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 240 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $83

Visit a family-run mezcal distillery near Puerto Escondido with Antoine and his team. Learn how agave becomes mezcal, see the artisanal process, and taste six house-made spirits with guacamole, peanuts, and chapulines. Hotel pickup is included within Puerto Escondido, with an extra charge outside town.

“This was a great and informative your. Such a personal look into the family connection and pride of the generations making mezcal. Adele was wonderful translating sharing so much information. The mezcal was delicious! I cannot recommend this experience more.”

Check availability →Read our full review

12.Check out Hierve el Agua, Mitla, the Tule Tree, Rugs, and a Mezcal Distillery Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 222 reviews · from $49

Spend about 11 hours exploring Oaxaca’s Tule Tree, Teotitlán del Valle, Mitla, and Hierve el Agua, then finish with a mezcal tasting. Guides such as Adriel, Andrea, Miguel, and Rodrigo are praised for clear English, humor, and local insight. Expect a small-group outing, several entry fees, a buffet lunch, and a sales pitch at the weaving stop.

“Thanks to Adriel our guide and our driver Eduardo we had an incredible day with lots of activities and I enjoyed every moment of it. The tour allows you to discover different aspects of Oaxaca and it is a good mixture on variety of activities”

Check availability →Read our full review

13.Ziplines and mezcal tasting

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 155 reviews · 3 to 4 hours (approx.) · from $99

At Huana Coa near La Noria, you’ll move across 11 platforms, ride 8 ziplines, and walk a nature trail before visiting the Los Osuna distillery. Guides such as Jonathan, Danny, Edgar, and Silver are known for clear safety instruction and good humor. Hotel pickup, equipment, lockers, and snacks are included.

“A fantastic day out! We had a wonderful time on the ziplines and the guide's we're great. The mezcal tasting at the end was delicious. Everything was so beautiful. Highly recommend!!!”

Check availability →Read our full review

14.Horseback riding & Temazcal combo with lunch and mezcal tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 107 reviews · 4 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $180

This Mazatlan outing combines a ranch visit, horseback riding through agave fields and along the beach, a temazcal ceremony, lunch, and tastings of six flavored mezcals. Pickup is available from hotels, apartments, or the cruise port. Note that some published details and guest accounts describe a 12-zipline course instead, so confirm the day’s program before booking.

“First time doing this activity and it was awesome, a bit scary but a one for the books, all the staff super friendly and of course the food is also the best.”

Check availability →Read our full review

15.Tacos & Mezcal Night Food Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 100 reviews · 4 hours · from $135

Join a small group of up to 10 for a four-hour taco tour through four Mexico City neighborhoods. Guides such as Carlos, Montse, Alma, and Fernanda explain regional taco styles, lead you to five taquerías, and finish with three mezcals, a cocktail, and al pastor.

“The tour was amazing! Part history tour part food heaven. I can’t recommend this tour enough.”

Check availability →Read our full review