A Taste of Oaxacan History
Among the verdant fields of Santiago Matatlán, you will find three generations
of Javiers, led by Don Javier Mateo, expertly honing the family tradition,
the artisanal profiles that would evolve into what is today:
Mezcal Los Javis
Our story began over three decades ago when Don Javier Mateo I and his wife, Doña Gloria, built the family’s first mezcal distillery (more commonly known as a palenque), with hopes of creating a spirit that embodied the essence of their Oaxacan tradition.
Don Javier dedicated his life maintaining and caring for the maguey to the younger generation. His passion was the land and the entire Mezcal process. Mezcal, a drink he made to share with friends and other palenqueros at the end of a hard day’s work.
The 1994 recession pushed many young workers to the United States including Don Javier’s oldest, Javier II
Javier II, or Javi to friends, has a passion for spirits and the ability to distinguish subtle flavors, tones, and aromas similar to the ways of a sommelier.
He realized that he could translate what he learned about wine to refine his family’s mezcal - from planting magueys to distilling the elegant flavor of Mezcal Los Javis.
More than a spirit, it’s a legacy
Our distillery has been family-owned and operated for three generations.
Mexican roots. Mexican owned.
“We are not only mezcaleros, but also the guardians of our traditions and of the legacy that our parents and grandparents left us. Part of that legacy is to pass on the torch and to not lose the tradition.”
— Don Javier Mateo per the LA Times