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.

Available At

Find Your Bottle

Every bottle traces back to Doña Juana and her family. No corporate distributor, no parent company. 278 stores across California and Texas at Trader Joe's, Total Wine, and Goody Goody.

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