the tradition

The origin of Las Tonas

In ancient times, human civilizations believed in the existence of duality between the human being and nature, such that man could adopt the features, characteristics or skills of the animals with which he had a spiritual connection. This allows us to recognize the importance of the protecting animals among the Egyptians (the cats), the Canadian cultures (the totems), and the Sioux and Apache Indians.

In the Zapotec culture, the guardian animal received the name, toná, and was associated with every individual from the day of his birth.  To recognize the toná, when a child was born, the father drew a circle of lime and mezcal at the entrance to the house.  The circle was left there over night; its smell attracted the spirits in the form of animals. The next morning, the father would go outside to see the tracks of the animal that had been guarding the entrance throughout the night.  The animal corresponding to those tracks would be the child's protecting toná throughout the child's lifetime.

Jacobo and María Ángeles: From the alebrije to the toná

In his workshop, along with his wife, Maria, the master artisan, Jacobo Angeles is one of Mexico's most renowned artists in the design of alebrijes (brightly colored folk-art sculptures) and nahuales (animals). Mr. Angeles used his artistic skills to create our trademark.  Using Zapotec symbols such as the house, the snail, the fish or man that surround our tonás such as the Coyote, the Jaguar or the Serpent, he applies his knowledge of Zapotec culture to fill our products not only with the best mezcal, but also with the most important iconic symbols of Mexico's regional culture, converting our bottles into works of art that can be enjoyed every day.

Be sure to visit Mr. Angeles' workshop the next time you travel to San Martin Tilcajete, Oaxaca, Mexico.  It is an extraordinary trip back in time and to the origin of our brand, that we invite you to take. Link to their web page: www.jacoboymariatilcajete.org

Each one of our brand's icons or charms were carefully thought through and drawn by the artist himself in his workshop.  Inspired by ancestral culture, the alebrijes he designs, and the magic of the tonás, Mr. Angeles created a series of images that are also individually significant as well, depending on where they are found.

What do we, as a brand, believe?

We at Las Tonas Mezcal are dedicated to two missions:

Produced by the master artisans of Las Tonas  distillery located in the heart of Mitla, Oaxaca, Mexico. (Espadin is a species of maguey, or agave).  It is Las Tonas Mezcal desire to preserve the authentic  mezcal – producing traditions, by utilizing only the best and most carefull selected agaves  in the regions of Matatlán and San Dionisio, Oaxaca. The artisanal method followed during the production process allows us to give our mezcals unique and special flavors. The mezcals we produce are artistic; they are selected for satisfy the most demanding palates, for consumer who are lovers of art and tradition – simply put, for those who enjoy life.

PRODUCTION PROCESS

From Oaxaca to the world

Mezcal's Denomination of Origin recognizes eight States that produce this spiritual beverage.  Without a doubt, the most famous of these is the State of Oaxaca.  That is where the magic begins. 

Our palenque (plantation) is located at kilometer #1 of the highway to Mitla.  This is where our master mezcalero (maguey grower/curator) jealously oversees each step of the production process of Las Tonas Mezcal.

Mitla and San Dionisio, Oaxaca are the two towns where the espadín agaves are planted and cultivated; it is these agaves that are used to produce our mezcals.  The characteristics of the land, the climate and the humidity - as well as the expert touch of our master mezcaleros  - different in each place, make each one of our products pleasantly surprising.

The flavor of the barrel

Once our mezcals have been distilled, they are either selected to be bottled as "young" (also called "white") mezcals, or are left to age in virgin American oak barrels for six months, to be converted into magnificent expressions of aged mezcal.  During this process, the wooden casks will give off extraordinary aromas and flavors, ranging from pepper and cinnamon to dried fruits.

Also, in San Dionisio, the extraordinary care our master mezcalero gives to the barrels permits us to obtain one of the most surprising mezcals on the market - our four-year-old mezcal.  An elegant and velvety rising and falling of traces of flavors that range from candied fruits to cashew nuts, from the smokiness of the mezcal to the prunes, from the agave nectar to the cloves.  Simply amazing.

1. Planting and cultivating the agaves for eight to ten years
2. Harvesting and tipping the agaves to obtain the heart
3. Harvesting of the hearts, preparing them for cooking
4. Cooking the hearts in a pit in the ground for four to seven days
5.  Grinding in a traditional mill with notches to take full advantage of the  fibers in the cooked agave
6. Fermenting and care of the resting of the fibers, to generate the nectar that  will then be converted into mezcal
7. Distilling and rectifying to obtain the purest high-quality mezcal to be bottled  or set aside to age
8. Bottling, filtering and manual labeling process
9.  Ready to be sent to points of sale and consumption centers throughout  Mexico, or to be exported
10. Enjoy moderately with friends and family, at special events or just any time. Any and every day is an opportunity to taste this ancestral, artisanal      and  sacred beverage.

*the abuse on consumption of alcoholic beverages may cause health problems.