Casa Cortes Gallery Max Kelly is a food and travel photographer. He’s based in Austin, TX but works wherever light exists. Max Kelly Photography All /Santiago Matatlán /Pablo Vasquez /Agua del Espino /Ejutla /La Compañía /Leoncio Santiago /Dainzu Roadside lunch stop in Santiago Matatlán, OaxacaFields of Espadín agave outside of Santiago MatatlánDon Pablo Vasquez replenishing our cups with a splendid Cuixe at his palenque in Agua del Espino, EjutlaDon Pablo Vasquez replenishing our cups with a splendid Cuixe at his palenque in Agua del Espino, EjutlaDon Pablo Vasquez enjoying a piece of sweet, roasted agave.Fresh roasted agave…. sweet like candy.Typical setup, mezcal veladoras and all.Fermentation involves a lot of patience. Distillery shown is Agua del Espino, Ejutla.Don Pablo retrieving the cap to his pot still.Don Pablo Vasquez. Maestro Mezcalero in Agua del Espino.On the menu: delicious tostadas.On the menu: delicious tostadas.Mezcal is family. Don Pablo is a lucky man.Future mezcaleras. Don Pablo’s granddaughters in Agua del Espino.Enough mezcal… it’s lunch time!!Lunch time at Don Pablo’s palenque.Don Pablo Vasquez’s palenque in Agua del Espino, Ejutla.Country road in Ejutla, Oaxaca.Don Gonzalo Hernandez, legendary mezcalero at his palenque in La Compañía, Ejutla, Oaxaca. Located about 2.5 hours SW of Oaxaca City.Filling up the jicarita…Roasted Espadín agave resting before being shredded.Palenque of Don Gonzalo Hernandez in La Compañía, Ejutla, Oaxaca.Burro. La Compañía, Ejutla, Oaxaca.Ready to head to the fields to harvest.Don Gonzalo Hernandez. Maestro Mezcalero in La Compañía, Ejutla, OaxacaSharing is caring. La Compañía, Ejutla, OaxacaKeeping the fire under the still hot.Early in the fermentation process. La Compañía, Ejutla, Oaxaca.Palenque of Don Gregorio Hernandez. La Compañía, Ejutla, Oaxaca.Life on the ranch in Ejutla.Life on the ranch in Ejutla.Maestro Mezcalero, Don Gregorio Hernandez, demonstrating how to use a venencia to gauge the alcohol content of mezcal.Las perlas.Don Pablo and Don Gregorio. Maestro Mezcaleros talking shop.Mezcalero.Next generation of mezcalero. La Compañía, Ejutla.Mezcalero Joel Hernandez, son of Don Gregorio Hernandez.Valentín Hernandez, son of Don Gregorio Hernandez.Joel Hernandez and family. La Compañí EjutlaLos Bigotones ranch, in La Compañía, EjutlaKarwinskii agave. Los Bigotones ranch, in La Compañía, EjutlaMezcalero at Los Bigotones.Patch of Karwinskii agaves.Hernandez family at Los Bigotones ranch in La Compañía, EjutlLeoncio Santiago at the Dainzu palenque in Santiago MatatlánAgave de Cortés Joven running fresh off the stillTools of the trade.Flowers planted next to the fermentation tanks at the Dainzu palenqueLeoncio Santiago, at his palenque known as DainzuEntry way to Dainzu, Native flowers known as, bougainvillea sit outside and provide a pop of color to the palenqueA retail shop attached to his Palenque, where Leoncio sells local arts and crafts. Leoncio Santiago, Dainzu
