Los Nahuales

Los Nahuales Mezcal is produced at Destilería Los Danzantes in Santiago Matatlán, Oaxaca by master distiller Karina Abad — crafting Joven, Reposado, Añejo (2.5 years French oak), and limited Special Edition artisanal expressions using traditional palenque methods and estate Espadin agave.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What makes Los Nahuales distinctive among Oaxacan mezcals?

Destilería Los Danzantes is one of Oaxaca’s most respected artisanal operations, founded by the same family behind the renowned Los Danzantes restaurant group in Oaxaca City and Mexico City. Master distiller Karina Abad brings formal training and deep regional knowledge to traditional palenque production — earthen pit roasting, tahona crushing, and open-air fermentation with wild yeasts. The French oak Añejo is notable because most mezcal producers avoid barrel aging (it obscures agave character); Los Nahuales’ restraint with 2.5 years in oak demonstrates confidence in the base spirit’s ability to absorb wood influence without losing its identity.

What does “Nahuales” mean?

In Mesoamerican indigenous traditions, a nahual is a spiritual guardian animal or spirit double that accompanies a person through life — a shape-shifting entity that bridges the human and animal worlds. The concept is deeply rooted in Zapotec and other Oaxacan indigenous cosmologies. The brand name reflects both the spiritual significance of the region where the mezcal is produced and the transformation from raw agave to finished spirit.