How we use sources
MezcalDaily is educational, not official regulatory advice.
MezcalDaily.com explains mezcal in plain English with humor and illustrations. The site is not a government agency, certifier, legal authority, medical source, retailer, importer, or producer. When legal, regulatory, or certification status matters, readers should check current official sources directly.
Important source note
Mezcal rules, approved regions, certification practices, and market data can change. Source links may also move or become outdated. This page is a reading guide, not a substitute for current official records.
Official standards and regulatory references
These are the first places to check for official mezcal definitions, specifications, production categories, labeling rules, and denomination information.
- Diario Oficial de la Federación — NOM-070-SCFI-2016, Bebidas alcohólicas-Mezcal-Especificaciones
- Gobierno de México — PDF of NOM-070-SCFI-2016
- IMPI — Declarations of Protection for Denominations of Origin and Geographical Indications
- Consejo Mexicano Regulador de la Calidad del Mezcal / Consejo Regulador del Mezcal
- Secretaría de Economía, Gobierno de México
Mezcal category and label explainers
These references are useful for understanding the practical meaning of NOM-070, mezcal categories, labels, certification, and bottle terminology.
- Mezcalistas — NOM-070 overview
- Mezcalistas — COMERCAM overview
- Mezcal Vago / Mas Mezcal — NOM-070-SCFI-2016 label explanation
- Experience Agave — Mezcal Basics
- Mezcal PhD — Mezcal education and category commentary
Agave, production, and sustainability references
These sources support broader discussion of agave cultivation, mezcal production, sustainability concerns, traditional methods, and the relationship between craft, regulation, and rural producers.
- Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems — Mezcal production in Mexico, tradition, technology, and sustainability
- Food & Wine — Destilados de agave and spirits outside official tequila/mezcal labels
- Mezcalistas — Agave spirits reporting, education, sustainability, and industry analysis
- Agave Road Trip — Agave spirits interviews and field-based education
- Del Maguey — Mezcal regions overview
Market and industry data
Market data changes quickly. Use these sources for broad context on the spirits market, tequila/mezcal sales, and category trends.
- Distilled Spirits Council of the United States — Annual Economic Briefing 2025
- Distilled Spirits Council of the United States — Spirits data by category
- Mezcalistas — 2025 mezcal sales data discussion
Books and deeper reading
Books can provide more context than short web explainers. Check current editions, publication dates, and author background when using books for research.
| Title | Author | Usefulness |
|---|---|---|
| Mezcal: The History, Craft & Cocktails of the World’s Ultimate Artisanal Spirit | Emma Janzen | Beginner-friendly history, category overview, and cocktail context. |
| Understanding Mezcal | James Schroeder | Accessible explanation of mezcal production and tasting. |
| Mezcal and Tequila Cocktails | Robert Simonson and related cocktail authorship varies by edition | Useful for cocktail context; check edition and author details before citation. |
| Divided Spirits: Tequila, Mezcal, and the Politics of Production | Sarah Bowen | Academic context on production, regulation, geography, and political economy. |
Responsible drinking resources
MezcalDaily.com is for adults of legal drinking age. These resources are useful for basic responsible drinking guidance and alcohol safety context.
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — Alcohol and Public Health
- Responsibility.org — Responsible alcohol consumption resources
- SAMHSA National Helpline
Responsible drinking note
MezcalDaily.com discusses alcoholic beverages for education and culture. It is intended for adults of legal drinking age only. Do not drink and drive. Do not drink underage. Sip slowly, hydrate, eat food, and stop before alcohol becomes unsafe.
How to suggest a source
We welcome source suggestions, especially official documents, academic research, producer transparency pages, sustainability reporting, and clear educational references.
Send source suggestions
Email: [email protected]
Include the page URL, source title, author or organization, publication date if available, and why the source improves the page.
Source quality policy
MezcalDaily prefers sources that are official, specific, dated, transparent, and written by people or organizations with relevant expertise. Marketing pages can be useful for producer-specific facts, but broad category claims should be checked against stronger sources whenever possible.
| Source type | Best use | Caution |
|---|---|---|
| Official standards | Definitions, categories, labeling rules, legal frameworks. | May be technical or updated by later actions. |
| Regulatory agencies | Denomination status, official declarations, public records. | Pages can move or lag behind newer documents. |
| Academic work | History, sustainability, production systems, political economy. | May be narrow or older than current market conditions. |
| Trade and industry data | Market size, sales trends, category performance. | Check year, methodology, and scope. |
| Producer pages | Specific bottle, producer, agave, town, and method details. | May be promotional; verify broader claims. |
| Journalism and education sites | Readable explanations, interviews, current developments. | Check date and sourcing. |
Good sources are like good mezcal labels: clear, specific, dated, and not hiding behind smoke.