Places

Magical landscapes where time stops for you to delve into the charm of their culture and tradition.

Fermentation tubs, Félix’s palenque, Santa Catarina de Minas, Oax. 2013.

CATARINA DE MINAS

The birth town of Félix Ángeles is a place where, in order to reach his palenque, one must travel down the church’s main road, as this is the road that leads to everywhere. There is no place in Santa Catarina de Minas that does not require you to take this route. The tradition to ferment the Montezuma cypress, or sabino, and placing crosses on the sap, characterizes this place, one that follows its religious customs so that their Saint watches over their distillations, brewed in clay pots.

•Altitude: It is located at an average altitude of 1,582 meters above sea level.

•Process: Ancestral, clay pots.

•Master: Félix Ángeles.

Fermentation tubs, Félix’s palenque, Santa Catarina de Minas, Oax. 2013.

SAN JUAN DEL RÍO

There is no highway to reach San Juan del Río; after a few hours down a dirt road one begins to descend into a valley. Halfway along the way is the house of maestro Isaías. His father-in-law, riding a horse, will lead you to their palenque, found in the heart of the valley, close to where the river runs through surrounded by hills full of agaves.

•Altitude: It is located at an average altitude of 1,100 meters above sea level.

•Process: Artesanal, copper still.

•Master: Isaías Martinez.

Hills in San Juan Del Río, Oax. 2014.

Palenque of Tio Fer, Sola de Vega, Oax.

SOLA DE VEGA

The picturesque landscapes of Sola de Vega are due to the diverse agaves that grow on its land. Hills, forests, and a vegetation that is grateful for the rain, this all makes this a special place for the magueys to grow. The altitude of the town brings one closer to the clouds; the southern Sierra Madre mountain range elevates the magueys to the gods.

•Altitude: It is located in the Sierra Madre del Sur, which implies that its relief is extremely rugged, the main elevations are in the north and in the central area.
Max. Altitude: 3,000 meters above sea level.
Min. Altitude: 700 meters above sea level.

•Process: Ancestral, clay pots.

•Master: Fernando Damián Mitra.

Palenque of Tio Fer, Sola de Vega, Oax.

MIAHUATLÁN

Going through the schoolhouse you begin to internalize the many dirt roads and scenary of wild agaves masked with tall stems and sharp spines to go unnoticed. Earth desert with a special charm by the family of maguey Karwinskii, mother of Bicuixe and Tobasiche. Felipe Cortés welcomes you with a glass of Bicuixe to sincronize you with Mother Earth.

•Altitude: It is located at a distance of 100 km. in relation to the state capital. The territory of the municipality has an area of 326.6 km².
Altitude: 1,558 meters above sea level.

•Process: Ancestral, clay pots.

•Master: Felipe Cortés.

House of Margarito Cortés, Miahuatlán, Oax 2014.