Para todo Mal, Mezcal.

‘Para todo Mal, Mezcal.’ (For everything bad, we drink Mezcal). ‘Y para todo bien, también.’ (And for everything good, (we drink it) too.)  It is one of the many Oaxacan sayings about the “elixir of Gods”. Sharing the joy of Mezcal is a spiritual tradition that dates back to 400 BC. Having a Mezcalito (little Mezcal) with loved ones means slowing down, to connect and be present. Deep within the Oaxacan mountains its artisanal production is preserved. But gatekeeping the authenticity of this cultural heritage is becoming a challenge. Economies of many settlements like Tlacolula de Matamoros start to rely more and more on the commercialisation of this part of their identity. “Para todo Mal, Mezcal”, explores these changing dynamics and intensive production.