A labor of love.

Maestro Mezcalero Margarito GarcíaEsfuerzo Mezcal Artesanal is the life's work of 76-year-old maestro mezcalero Margarito García. His mezcal, which has only been available in his home town of San Dionisio Ocotepec and reserved for community fiestas and family gatherings, is finally ready to be shared with the world. Margarito’s youngest son, Artemio (Temo), spent most of his youth at the palenque (family distillery) learning the intricacies of mezcal making from his father, the maestro mezcalero.

As Temo entered adulthood, he, like many others before him, chose to leave home in order to make a name for himself, apart from his father. He spent many years working outside of the palenque pursuing other ambitions. However, once he had begun a family of his own he came to the inevitable realization that “Mezcal es en mi sangre”—"Mezcal is in my blood”—the call to return home and carry on the traditions of his family proved irresistible.